Luanda – President João Lourenço declared on Friday, Jan 24, that Angola will continue faithful to its tradition of promoting interactive and inclusive dialogue, giving special attention to the African continent.
The Angolan Head of State was speaking during the traditional New Year's greetings ceremony presented by the diplomatic corps accredited in Angola, at the Presidential Palace.
He highlighted that Angola diplomacy's main focus is to contribute to world peace and security, strengthen ties of friendship and economic cooperation, cultural and scientific exchange between peoples and nations.
He stressed that, based on this awareness, "induced by experience and animated by the trust that the African Union placed on us, the Angolan Executive will continue to put all its experience at the service of peace in Africa".
He emphasized that Angola will pursue all possible efforts to find viable solutions to the conflicts that have undermined the continent's economic development, such as that between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, in order to put a definitive end to the recurring cycles of instability and violence that ravage that region.
"Although we are experiencing some inconveniences in the discussions to reach an agreement on the definitive end of the conflict in eastern DRC, we remain hopeful that, despite the latest negative developments around Goma, we will be able to overcome the differences that still persist and that will end up sealing definitive peace between the DRC and Rwanda, thus closing another chapter in Africa's convulsive history", he announced.
He also expressed concern about the events taking place in Sudan, which requires "a more active and efficient stance of solidarity towards the citizens of that country who face a highly worrying humanitarian situation, alarming levels of infrastructure destruction and a severe risk of insecurity to feed".
The Angolan Head of State also emphasized the issue in Sahel, 'which is going through a period of regression in terms of citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms and respect for democratically elected State institutions due to coups d'état and terrorism'.
According to President João Lourenço, the situation in the Sahel region "requires a collective effort from all of us to overcome the evils that prevail so that peace and security for communities and citizens can be returned to the constitutional order".
He informed that these issues, which have a strong impact on the peace and security of the African continent, will be at the center of Angola's concerns from the moment it assumes the rotating presidency of the African Union.
"We will seek to intensify the relationship with all of Africa's international partners so that they contribute actively and effectively to the launch of a vast program of construction and improvement of infrastructure across the continent", he stressed.
President João Lourenço considered this assumption essential in order to restore justice and strengthen friendship and solidarity in the relationship between Africa and the world, especially between Africa and former colonizing powers.
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