Carlos Vila Nova, who spoke at the commemorative session of the 50th anniversary of April 25, 1974, with the heads of state of Portugal and the former Portuguese colonies, whose independence was linked to April 25, stressed that we are commemorating "a landmark event that transcends and resonates deeply in the collective consciousness of many nations".

"It marked a crucial moment in history, not only for Portugal but also for the Portuguese colonies in Africa", he added.

The commemorative session of the 50th anniversary was held at the Belém Cultural Center and was presided over by the Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, with the presence of the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, and the heads of state of Angola, João Lourenço, Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and East Timor, José Ramos-Horta.

"We must bow in deep respect for the victims of the dictatorial regime who, with their revolutionary nonconformity, were able to bequeath us the greatest good that is freedom and living in a democracy", he said.

For future generations, he argued, it is important to "fight for the immunization of democracy and its institutions", adding that it is "an obligation" to leave them "this immense material heritage of our civilization".

Carlos Vila Nova drew a parallel between the armed struggle of the liberation movements in the former colonies and the revolution that overthrew the dictatorship.

"Many advocate and seem to be right that the freedom that came with the April 25 revolution is largely due to the liberation movements", he said.

The President of São Tomé and Príncipe then highlighted the creation of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), led by Lusophone countries "from a distant past to a community of countries with a common language, headquartered in Lisbon".

"For all this, we can affirm without reservation that the traits that bring us together are more numerous than those that distance us", he stressed.

"Let us work together to build a future where every citizen, regardless of race, ethnicity or origin, can enjoy the full rights and opportunities promised by independence", he said.

Carlos Vila Nova ended his speech by asking that "the spirit of the Carnation Revolution implies the urgent need, solidarity and provision of support to the peoples who are still struggling with aggression and the imposition of the strongest, in a world where some believe they have more rights than others and where international law does not seem to have enough strength to resolve the complex emerging issues" of the present time.

Read Also: "From the colonial past we keep memories that will guide us in the future" (Portuguese version)