GLOBAL PEACE
Portugal believes that multilateral action, political dialogue, and diplomatic wisdom are the only possible route to harmonious coexistence between nations and peoples.
BIOGRAPHY
Marcelo Nuno Duarte Rebelo de Sousa is a Portuguese politician serving as the 20th and current President of Portugal since March 9, 2016. Previously, he was a government minister and member of parliament, a law professor, journalist, political analyst, and pundit. Born in Lisbon, Rebelo de Sousa is a university graduate, Doctorate, Professor, and publicist specializing in constitutional law and administrative law from the faculty of law of the University of Lisbon, where he taught law.The reform of the UN requires the commitment of all member states. Maintaining the status quo is a way of gutting multilateralism and multiplying risks, conflicts without prevention, underdevelopment, and the violation of human rights and human dignity. Not reforming the Security Council with a broad-based consensus is to ignore the geopolitics of the 21st century, which requires, at the very least, the presence of the African continent, Brazil, and India.
Our view of the world situation and of the role of the UN explains our positions on so-called regional questions, but which are global in scope. Let me now dwell on some that are of special relevance to Portugal: The strengthening of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), currently presided by Cabo Verde, to be followed by Angola, whose contributions to stability and development I wish to highlight. CPLP enjoys magnificent cooperation with the UN and pursues the goal of seeing the Portuguese language—one of the most widely spoken in the world—adopted as an official language of the UN; the steps taken in Guinea-Bissau in preparation for elections in November; the growing importance of the African Union, its key uniting role for peace and sustainable development, the intensification of the partnership with the UN and the historic step of the “Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship" between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Our wish is for the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be held in a safe, free, and fair manner and that the results will be respected by all; the important developments on the Korean Peninsula opening positive prospects for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization and demonstrating the commitment and courage of the parties involved; and the signing of the Maritime Boundary Treaty between Australia and Timor-Leste under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the UN.
Unfortunately, certain parts of the Middle East and the Maghreb continue to show signs of permanent political, social and economic instability. In Libya, the international community must unite to assist with the humanitarian and security situation and the creation of a solid state. Yemen remains the scene of one of the greatest humanitarian crises today, especially affecting the most vulnerable, women and children. Only negotiated political solutions, through the mediation of the UN and respect for international humanitarian law, will be able to reverse this increasingly tragic situation. Equally tragic is the humanitarian crisis in Syria, with one of the largest flows of refugees within and out of the region.
Here, also, only a substantive, inclusive and UN-mediated political solution will tend to ensure effective and broad-based international support for reconstruction, in the absence of which there will be apparent, sporadic and transitory agreements, but not the lasting peace. In any case, stabilization and peace in the Middle East will only be possible with the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Common sense demands the resumption of a credible negotiation process, addressing all the final status issues, including the question of Jerusalem, and leading to a practicable two-state solution based on coexistence by Israel and Palestine in peace and security.
As mentioned by Secretary-General António Guterres, true patriotism is only complete with cosmopolitanism. Portugal believes that multilateral action, political dialogue, and diplomatic wisdom are the only possible route to harmonious coexistence between nations and peoples. A short-term view or views, however appealing they may appear to be, are just a flash in the pan, which does not last, will not last, and will not solve the world's true problems: development, justice, security, and effective respect for the rights of those who are the reason for our mandate and our presence in this General Assembly.
As Nelson Mandela said: “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of." This is the noble mission of this institution; it is also the reason for Portugal's deep commitment to the UN.
GLOBAL PEACE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries
Making an Impact
Established in 1996, the Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries (CPLP) is a mechanism geared at linking and sharing the experience of Lusophone countries. Besides Portugal, this includes Brazil, Portugal, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
read articleFocus
Don’t Mind the Disruption
Having won the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, Lisbon hosted the 2018 event. The relevance? Well, the contest began back in 1956 as a showcase not only of song, but of then-nascent live television broadcast technology. Today, Portugal is on the cutting edge of new technological developments.
read articleInterview
João Pedro Soeiro de Matos Fernandes , Minister , Environment and Energy Transition
The Ministry for the Environment and Energy Transition is focusing on decarbonizing the economy, valuing the territory and its habitats, and striving for a more circular use of the country's resources.
read articleInterview
António Braz Costa , General Manager, Portuguese Technological Centre for the Textile & Clothing Industries (CITEVE)
CITEVE has transformed the industry by promoting value addition, adopting the latest technologies, and ensuring the highest standards of environmental sustainability.
read articleFocus: New airport
Right Time to Seize Missed Opportunities
Portugal has seen its air traffic figures increase by as much as 80% in the last five years. As a result, its transportation infrastructure, and Lisbon's airport in particular, cannot cope with the rising numbers. A new airport project that will turn a military base into a commercial airport is now under discussion to bring much-needed relief to air traffic.
read articleInterview
Germano de Sousa , President, Grupo Germano de Sousa
Grupo Germano de Sousa's success can best be summed up by its understanding that science and medicine only really progress when technological development is combined with a deeper respect for human values and professional ethics.
read articleInterview
Isabel Capeloa Gil , Rector, Universidade Católica
Having pioneered the introduction of multiple subject areas to Portugal's tertiary education scene, Universidade Católica is aspiring to establish the country's first private medical school and introduce cutting-edge digital transformation.
read articleInterview
Carlos Guillén Gestoso , President, Escola Universitária de Ciências Empresariais, Saúde, Tecnologias e Engenharia & President, Atlantica University
Atlantica University differentiates through its company-university model and an MBA program in partnership with the University of California, Berkley, among other initiatives, to produce practical theoreticians.
read articleFocus: Public teaching staff
An Age-old Problem
Over a decade of austerity measures combined with an ageing population have seen the average age of the Portuguese public teaching staff progressively climb to one of the highest in the OECD. With frozen salaries, an extended retirement age, and precarious working conditions, today the sector faces one of its biggest challenge yet.
read articleInterview
Pedro Queiroz , General Manager, Federation of the Portuguese Agri-Food Industry (FIPA)
Portugal's economic recovery has seen its F&B sector emerge with annual turnovers of EUR16 billion, thanks to FIPA's undeterred focus on stable policies, excellent nutrition standards, and sustainability.
read article
