Communication

In reply to the questions received from the journalists, the following is made known:

1. The process known as the ‘Madeleine Case’ has still not completed the investigation phase, it therefore corresponds to the entity that leads or directs this (Public Ministry) to provide the information or clarifications about its development, if the understanding is that the law is permitting;

2. During this phase, the intervention of the Instruction Judge is necessary and should be destined to safeguard the rights, liberties and guarantees, by authorising or not the carrying out of diligences that could offend these rights, liberties and guarantees, such as, for example, forensic tests, searches, apprehensions (as was the case of jurisdictional intervention that has taken place until now);

3. Satisfying the requirement of the Portimao Court Instruction Judge and given the communicational difficulties that still persist within our courts, this Council assumes, in collaboration with the aforementioned Judge, the provision of clarifications and information which, within the strict limits of the law, come to be justified, whether in the jurisdictional phase that may eventually come to take place, or in the specific interventions of the Instruction Judge, which may also come to occur in the future;

4. The intervention of the Instruction Judge that has occurred up until now does not justify – further than that which has been explained – any information or clarification on the part of this Council.

Lisbon, 18th September 2007

Vice President

Antonio Nunes Ferreira Girao