Arquivos do autor:Paulo Gonçalves

The Portuguese legislative structure has a new entity “The military Veteran statute”. A long waited National recognition to all those that have engaged in overseas military operations in the service of Portugal. This Statute will embrace all those military that have fought in the years sixties/seventies (of the 20th Century) in Angola, Guiné Bissau, Mozambique,Continuar lendo “Portuguese Military Veterans’ official statute”

The violent cessation of Yugoslavia brought to the discussion forums concerned with “crisis resolution” some lessons that, apparently, we insist on not learning. Economic difficulties generate social dissatisfaction, which leads to the emergence of rowdy leaders, with fiery speeches, which open space for the confrontation between the institutional power and popular masses. This is trueContinuar lendo “Lessons Identified (but little learned) from field operations”

A dissolução violenta da ex-Jugoslávia trouxe para os fóruns de discussão preocupados com a “resolução de crises” algumas lições que, aparentemente, teimamos em não aprender. As dificuldades económicas geram insatisfação social, a qual potência o aparecimento de líderes conflituosos, com discursos inflamados, que abrem espaço para o confronto entre o poder instituído e as massasContinuar lendo “Lições do teatro de operações.”

Today, 27DEC2020, it’s elections day in the Central African Republic (CAR). Unfortunately, yesterday, armed terrorist groups launched attacks targeting the Central African defense and security forces and United Nations peacekeepers in Dékoa (Kémo prefecture ), and in Bakouma (Mbomou prefecture). As a result, three (3) Burundi peacekeepers lost their lives on the line of duty.Continuar lendo “Dark election day in Central African Republic”

O International Peace Institute – organismo independente de avaliação e lições aprendidas em ambientes de resolução de crise e manutenção da paz – liberou um estudo sobre as missões de Apoio à Paz de países europeus em África, onde Portugal é apontado como uma excepção positiva na forma como a Europa se tem vindo aContinuar lendo “Forças Portuguesas são um exemplo na ONU”

Spending the Christmas season in a mission area, away from the loved ones, is always something difficult to endure. However, someone has got to do it and we always have some creativity to overtake difficulties. I wish a Merry Christmas to all sailors, airmen, soldiers, police agents and civilian personnel serving in EU/NATO/OSCE/UN and allContinuar lendo “Merry Christmas peacekeepers”

We’ve been seen for the past few days (weeks) a new hope in the ongoing negotiations for a lasting Peace Agreement in Afghanistan. Should the negotiators (both parts) be able to overtake their differences, it would be a major achievement in that turmoil part of the World. However, let us not forget that Afghanistan stillContinuar lendo “Afghan transition from civil war to peace building”

Donald Trump’s Administration can be characterized as not having engaging in a new major combat operation, somewhere in the World. In fact, America is reducing its presence in Iraq and in Afghanistan. However, as the time to exchange staffs in the “Oval Room” gets closer, that seems to be changing, because the US deployed long-rangeContinuar lendo “The dangerous “limbo” period in between American Administrations.”

Interpreters always have a funny nick name or callsign. In Bosnia they were “Yellow Cards” because of the distinctive color of their UN id. cards. In Afghanistan some called them “Fnoos”. However, regardless the nickname we attribute them, they are absolutely indispensable in any crisis response deployment, peace/development negotiation and in all major achievements. InContinuar lendo “Deployed forces’ Interpreters; the Afghani Fnoos”