Marcelo emphasizes the “global aspect” of the summit, which is a “first step” towards peace

The Portuguese President highlighted this Saturday the strong and diverse participation of countries and organizations in the Ukraine Peace Summit, believing that this gives a “very important global aspect” to this “first step” towards ending the war.

Speaking to the press at the end of the first working session of the summit, which will last until Sunday in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, on the outskirts of Lucerne, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza congratulated himself on the fact that “many countries were represented, from all continents”, as he was able to ensure that “ great convergence of points of view” among about three dozen leaders who have already spoken this Saturday.

This convergence around “the concern for peace and the path to peace” was expressed by countries not only of the European Union (EU) or NATO, “but also the Arab world, the African world and the Asian world,” he said. congratulated Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, who noted the desire of everyone to “work towards common conclusions” that will be adopted on Sunday.

Regarding the absence of several member states of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), the Portuguese head of state emphasized that some of them are present, such as Timor-Leste, which this Saturday already intervened through Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, and said that he believes that Even those not participating in the Swiss summit share the desire to achieve peace in Ukraine.

“As far as we know, some of them, those who are not represented here, agree, because they said so, with peace, the path to peace and the importance of all the steps that are taken to achieve peace,” stated.

Among the CPLP countries, only Portugal, Cape Verde and Timor-Leste are represented at the level of heads of state and government, Sao Tome and Principe are represented at the ministerial level (head of diplomacy), Brazil does not actively participate, sending only as an observer to its ambassador in Switzerland , and Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, as well as Equatorial Guinea, are not present.

Declining to predict the content of his speech at the plenary session scheduled for Sunday morning, Marcelo nevertheless added that “it corresponds to what, generally speaking, has always been the position of Portugal” and that it “is consistent with the views expressed today.” , reiterating that “the search for a just world means [uma paz] consistent with the principles and values ​​of the Charter of the United Nations and international law in general” and durable.

Regarding the next steps to be taken in a process that will at some point involve Russia, the head of state noted that “in the middle of the meeting” in Switzerland, which ends only on Sunday afternoon, “it has not yet been decided exactly what the next stage”.

“There are several proposals for the next stage, let’s wait and see which one will be accepted at the appropriate time,” he said, stressing earlier that “everyone understands that there must be a first moment, and Switzerland must thank you for providing this moment “

“Then there must be other points, and it is important to listen to countries here that clearly have relations with all parties involved, not just one, namely the Arab world, and they all have an important idea: if it is possible [a paz] faster is better than slower.”

In conclusion, Marcelo, accompanied by Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel, stressed that this summit “is the first step towards peace, other steps will follow, but this is very important because it was the first and has such the performance and bonding is very positive.”

The peace conference in Ukraine, organized by Switzerland at the request of Zelensky, brings together representatives of almost a hundred countries and organizations, half of them from Europe, but there are several absentees (invitations were sent to 160 delegations from around the world). world).

The big absentee is Russia, which on Friday called on UN member states not to participate in a conference it deemed “provocative and completely useless” and also accused Switzerland of losing neutrality by joining European sanctions against Moscow after the start of the military offensive. in Ukraine in February 2022.

Also notable was the absence of China, one of Moscow’s great allies and seen as a fundamental mediator for future peace talks, which refused to participate due to Russia’s absence, with Zelensky accusing Beijing of working with the Kremlin (the Russian president) to sabotage the conference. putting pressure on countries not to participate.

Kyiv hopes to gain broad international support for a joint peace plan at this summit, with the prospect of a second summit to which Russia, which currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, will be invited, following offensive military operations launched in February 2022.