The holding of the Avante! Festival is always, and this year in particular, an important political affirmation of the exercise of democratic rights and intervention in defence of the interests of workers and people.

We are once again in the critical period of forest fires. In the next two months, as the last few weeks have already signalled, we run the serious risk of seeing rural and forester owners losing parts of their farms, populations in distress seeing the fires approach, hundreds of fire-fighters and other civil protection operatives risking their life to fight fires and to protect people and property.

The Government of Israel has announced its intention to promote, as of July 1st., the annexation of about 30% of the territory of the West Bank, illegally occupied since 1967. Such a decision violates the United Nations Charter which, in its Article 2 establishes the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force. Furthermore, it defies the international consensus established on the resolution of the Palestinian issue.

Our most fraternal greetings to all the comrades and friends, who came here today to affirm the determination of this Portuguese Communist Party to, under whatever circumstances, respond to the problems, interests and aspirations of the workers and the people. A greeting through you to all communists in the district of Porto, with the certainty that in these complex and difficult times you have not failed to fulfil the role that should always be of a Party like ours.