Greetings to the World Peace Council and Friend Organizations:

Conselho Português para a Paz e Cooperação

December 7 2010.

On behalf of the National Board of CPPC

Rui Namorado Rosa

www.cppc.pt

The Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation (CPPC) has been in the core group of Portuguese organizations that since early in 2010 have worked to the effect of establishing a broad coalition of over one hundred social organizations - coming from the workers, women and students movements, popular associations, cultural world - united in the platform «Yes to Peace No to NATO.

That was in line with the resolution adopted at our last general assembly held one year ago, already having in our horizon the announced NATO summit to be held in Lisbon, and with the International Meeting held in Lisbon on the 30th January 2010, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the World Peace Council.

CPPC and the Campaign "Yes to Peace No to NATO" carried out a large number of actions across the country, on its initiative or taking part of other organizations’ initiatives. We kept in mind passing the information (absent in the general media) as well as passing to the wide audience the analysis and position messages of the peace movement, regarding the forces presently acting on the Worlds’ stage, denouncing the central role of NATO in imposing present times’ oppression and war on peoples, as opposed to the main lines of resistance and progresses attained by peoples’ will in different parts of the World.

The impressive Demonstration held by the Campaign "Yes to Peace No to NATO" in Lisbon on November the 20th, sent a clear and strong sign of opposition to the “war summit” being held at the same time, and denounced the real nature and purposes of the already announced “new strategic concept” of the old NATO. It was a worthy response by the tens of thousand Portuguese people, from Lisbon and coming from elsewhere in the whole country, marching along the city centre, carrying with pride and hope on their faces and banners a “new vision” of a peaceful future.

But we were nor alone. With us we counted with many foreign delegations of fellow peace movements, also proudly holding their flags and banners, among them a large representation of the World Peace Council. At the end, in front of the stage, the assembled crowed listen to the speeches of the President of the World Peace Council and of CPPC, as well as of the Portuguese Confederation of Portuguese Workers and of the National Preparatory Committee for the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students – both of which are also parties to this peace campaign.

The previous day, an International Meeting was held in Almada, in front of Lisbon across the river Tagus, under the title "NATO enemy of Peace and the Peoples – Dismantle it!". Co-organized by CPPC with the WPC, it gathered one hundred activists, thirty of which took the floor, speaking on the behalf of peace organizations from Europe, Middle East and the Americas, political parties and non governmental organizations. That was a great opportunity to exchange information and social and political assessments of present Worlds’ affairs and crisis.

CPPC was very much honoured to welcome and assist World Peace Council’s representatives and the leaders and delegations of fellow organizations. Their coming to the Demonstration and Meeting was inspiring to our efforts and very much enriched the content and the political weight of the events organized by the Portuguese society, through the Campaign "Yes to Peace No to NATO" and CPPC, on the occasion of the NATO summit in Lisbon.

We thank all and each one of our comrades and friends who came to Lisbon on this very special occasion. Our frank and fraternal cooperation will result stronger and enables us to proceed with determination the tasks we face ahead.