Your Excellency Mr. Cavaco Silva, President of Portugal, Distinguished Members of the Council, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank Portugal for convening today's debate on the protection of civilians.
I very much welcome the presence here today of His Excellency President Cavaco Silva –a clear sign of the commitment of Portugal to this very important issue.
All of us share a fundamental responsibility to do more to protect civilians caught up in the horrors of war.