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CSDN meets in the Palace of Belém

Meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence

The Supreme Council of National defence met in the Palace of Belém, chaired by the President of the Republic.

At the end of the meeting, a communiqué was read by the Secretary of the Council, General João Goulão de Melo.

Following is the text of the communiqué:

"In the session it held today, the Council analysed the situation of the military forces detached in peace missions abroad, within the framework of the International Organizations to which Portugal belongs, as well as the expected developments and commitments for the coming year.

In the specific case of the national involvement in Afghanistan, the Council agreed the deployment, in the end of the first quarter of 2009, of a 15 member Medical Team of the Army Health Services, to render services in the Kabul Airport hospital, where the team will be stationed.

In line with the provisions of the Law of National Defence and the Armed Forces, the Protocols of the Adhesions of Albania and Croatia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were submitted to the Council. These documents were given a favourable agreement.

The Council analysed two preliminary draft laws, submitted by the Government, relative to the organization of National Defence and the Armed Forces, and decided to advise the Government of their favourable view, for later submission to Parliament.

The Government also presented a preliminary draft law on the Regulation of Military Discipline, which was equally given a favourable view by the Council."