In view of the extraordinary seriousness of the issues raised by the death and illnesses among the Portuguese troops sent to the Balkans, the Portuguese Communist Party considers it necessary to pursue and intensify the protest actions against the unacceptable attitude of the Portuguese Government and against Portugal's submissive involvement in the aggressive policy of the US, of NATO and of imperialism in general.

The PCP considers it particularly serious that at the very moment when disquiet grows, as a result of these deaths and illnesses, the Government insists on sending a new contingent of troops to Kosovo and confirms that it is keen to take part in NATO's and the EU's militarist policy.

The PCP is firmly opposed to such a policy, which jeopardizes Portugal's independence and sovereignty and the Portuguese people's security. Portugal must gradually detach itself from NATO and struggle for its dissolution. Not only must no more troops go to the Balkans. It is an imperative that those who are there return home. Portugal needs a different foreign policy, not a policy submitted to the great powers, but a patriotic and independent policy, a policy of peace and cooperation.

It is to give voice to all this that the PCP decides to launch a National Day of Protest and it appeals for the participation at a rally that it will organize
on January 25, at 6 p.m., in front of the Prime Minister's residence in the S. Bento Palace.