Africa-Press – Angola. Matters related to the strengthening of parliamentary cooperation dominated this Wednesday (30), in Luanda, the audiences that the speaker of the National Assembly, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, granted to the ambassadors of Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal and India.
Speaking to the press, the ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire, Jean-Marie Sommet, said that he discussed with the president of the National Assembly the strengthening of relations between the two countries, as well as defending the need to create a parliamentary friendship group.
According to the diplomat, who presented the credentials on 18 November 2021, the meeting agreed to carry out reciprocal visits by deputies from both countries, in addition to expressing satisfaction with the agreement that exists between the two parliaments, with emphasis on the information exchange.
For his part, the Portuguese ambassador underlined that his country’s priority is to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, at a time when the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic has just taken office.
According to Francisco Alegre Duarte, the current political situation in both countries was reviewed, with emphasis on the preparation of the general elections in Angola, scheduled for August of this year.
He said that he had received a note of optimism regarding the election year in Angola, hoping that everything would run in a cordial climate and serve as another milestone in the consolidation of democracy in this African country.
Asked about the granting of visas for Angolan citizens to Portugal, Francisco Duarte assured that the Embassy he heads is working to improve procedures and achieve concrete progress.
In this sense, he highlighted the signing of a visa facilitation protocol, in July 2021, as well as the mobility agreement within the scope of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), which, according to the ambassador, is the result of an initiative and commitment of the Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa.
He stated that since that date there has been significant progress and, in March of the current year, the end of restrictions on entry into Portugal was registered.
Since June of last year, medical treatment visas have increased by more than 300 percent, while study visas have increased by 390 percent and, overall, have risen by 400 percent.
According to the Portuguese ambassador, since March 2020, more than three thousand visas have been granted.
In turn, the Indian ambassador to Angola, Pratibha Parkar, said that, in addition to strengthening parliamentary cooperation, the audience aimed to launch the International Solar Alliance campaign.
He explained that the campaign is an initiative of the Governments of India and France, launched at COP20, with the ratification of 180 countries. He considered Angola’s participation in it important, given the role it plays in Southern Africa.
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