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LISBON, Feb. 7-- The Portuguese government welcomed on Thursday the signing of a Peace and Reconciliation Agreement between the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and the armed groups in Bangui the previous day. Portugal congratulates the signatories on their commitment to peace in the CAR as well as the involvement of the African Union through its Commissioner for Peace and Security Ambassador Smail Chergui, the government said in a statement. The Portuguese government believed that the parties involved demonstrate the same level of commitment to the implementation of the signed agreement and honor the commitments made in order to restore stability in the CAR and to ensure its sustainable development, the statement said. Portugal remains committed to its support for peace and stability in the CAR, notably through the participation of the Outstanding National Forces in the missions of the United Nations and the European Union, currently constituting the largest projection of Portuguese troops in Africa, it said. The government of CAR signed on Wednesday the agreement in the CAR capital of Bangui with armed groups that control large areas of the country, aimed at ending more than five years of conflict. The agreement had been initialed in Khartoum on Tuesday after lengthy talks brokered by the African Union and supported by the United Nations. | 
