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Meeting of the SCND

Meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence

The Supreme Council for National Defence held an ordinary scheduled meeting under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic.

At the end of the meting, which took place in the Palace of Belém, a communiqué was read by the Secretary of the Council, General João Goulão de Melo.

Following is the text of the communiqué:

“The Council held an ordinary scheduled meeting and, following the procedure of ratification of International Treaties, analysed the Government’s proposal relative to two Cooperation Agreements in the field of Defence, with the Republic of Serbia and with the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. The Council gave a favourable view for their approval.

Since the full members of the Western European Union had decided to terminate the validity of the Modified Brussels Treaty and consequently, to dissolve the WEU in 2011 and, taking into consideration that the incidence in security and defence policies do not lessen the multilateral guarantees of National Defence of which Portugal is a beneficiary, the Council expressed a favourable view as to the proposed Resolution that the Government will later submit to Parliament.

The Council analysed the situation and the perspectives of the development of the peace missions in which the Armed Forces are externally involved, and expressed a favourable view as to the Government’s proposal on the participation of national means in Operation Atalanta, for which the European Union is responsible, with the posting of an Air Force Team comprising a Maritime Patrolling Aircraft and a total complement of 42 personnel, for a maximum period of four months, with the aim to contribute towards the safety of maritime activity in the region of the Indian Ocean.”