Africa-Press – Angola. Angolan diplomat Edgar Gaspar Martins presented his credentials on Thursday (05) in Luxembourg to Grand Duke Guillaume V, Head of State of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, legitimizing him as the new ambassador of Angola to that country.
The accreditation ceremony of Edgar Gaspar Martins, who is also Ambassador of Angola to the Kingdom of Belgium and to the European Union (EU), took place at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City.
After receiving the Credentials, Grand Duke Guillaume V learned about the political and security dynamics in the Great Lakes Region, with particular attention to the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and also discussed the ongoing negotiations regarding the Agreement on the Suppression of Double Taxation between Luxembourg and Angola.
Ambassador Edgar Martins highlighted, on that occasion, the importance of strengthening and revitalizing bilateral relations between the countries, emphasizing, among other topics, the strategic role of the Lobito Corridor for the Angolan economy and for regional integration.
According to a press release on Friday (06), the ceremony was preceded, a day before, by the presentation of the Figurative Letters to the Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, in accordance with local tradition.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the Angolan ambassador and the director of Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defense, Cooperation and External Trade of Luxembourg, Véronique Dockendorf, discussed the prospects for deepening bilateral relations.
In the meeting, the Angolan diplomat referred to the progress made in the context of bilateral cooperation, highlighting the signing, in July 2023, of an MOU on air links, with the aim of strengthening connectivity between the two countries and promoting the development of the civil aviation sector.
He also reported on ongoing negotiations for the conclusion of agreements or MOUs in the areas of double taxation avoidance and judicial cooperation, as well as the clear intention of both parties to strengthen political consultations between their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs, including the possibility of signing a specific MOU in the short term.
In the area of financial and commercial cooperation, he emphasized the continued interest in strengthening ties with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce, with a view, in particular, to supporting the Angolan private sector.
The diplomat advocated, as priority actions, the regular exchange of technical delegations, the strengthening of political consultations and the systematic exchange of information on issues of national, regional and international interest, with particular attention to the challenges of economic and social development, as well as issues of peace and security on the African continent.
In turn, Véronique Dockendorf reiterated her country’s willingness to support mutually beneficial joint initiatives.
She also highlighted the interest in expanding political and economic cooperation, with emphasis on the signing, which is expected soon, of the Agreement on the Suppression of Double Taxation, as well as matters related to the Lobito Corridor and the peace and security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.
The official congratulated Angola on the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of National Independence and praised the Angolan authorities for the way they organized the 7th African Union (AU)–European Union (EU) Summit, which marked 25 years of dialogue and cooperation between the AU and the EU.
During his trip to Luxembourg, Edgar Gaspar Martins has scheduled a meeting with the Angolan community residing in that country for this Friday, as part of his strategy of reaching out to communities abroad.
