The President of the Republic addressed a message of congratulations on the occasions of the 20th anniversary of the North South Centre of the Council of Europe.

Following is the text of the message addressed by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva:

"It is with great pleasure that I would like to congratulate the North-South Centre for the commemoration of its 20th anniversary. I had the pleasure, as Prime Minister, to formalize, with the Council of Europe, the proposal for the creation of the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity, a project that came to life in 1989, and that, a year later, was set up in Lisbon.

I would like to highlight the particularly valuable contribution given by the North-South Centre, throughout the last two decades, towards a greater consciousness of the challenges and opportunities of global interdependence and the promotion of a closer relationship and greater solidarity between the North and the South.

In a world of constant transformation, the North-South Centre has been able to adapt to the pursuit of new objectives, without forgetting the issues that, from the beginning, have been the driving force behind its action, such as the promotion and defence of human rights, the eradication of poverty, the promotion of pluralist democracy, human dignity, and equal opportunities.

In this framework, the Centre organises a particularly visible and prestigious event, the North-South Prize, awarded annually, since 1995, to personalities from each hemisphere, that have distinguished themselves through their exceptional contribution for the promotion of the values upheld by the Centre.

The mission of the North-South Centre is equipped today with a renewed significance. The inequalities that can be felt throughout the world, both in fundamental liberties as in the levels of socio economic development in the different regions, require a strengthened sense of responsibility and solidarity towards the most penalized and disfavored populations.

For these reasons, I believe that the 20th anniversary celebration of the North-South Centre, constitutes not only an occasion to give a most deserved tribute of recognition for all that has been accomplished, but also, a privileged opportunity to reflect on the best way to ensure that the Centre continues to play a key role in the promotion of global solidarity."