Africa-Press – Angola. Parliament Speakers of Angola, Carolina Cerqueira, and Cuba, Esteban Lazo Hernández, on Saturday in Havana signed the renewal of the Parliamentary Cooperation Protocol in force since July 2012.
The ceremony, according to a press release sent by the National Assembly on Sunday, took place at the Cuban National Capitol and marks the revitalization of parliamentary relations between the two sister nations.
The update of the Parliamentary Cooperation Protocol, in force for 13 years, expands its scope with the inclusion of three new areas of cooperation, which encourage the intensification of the exchange of experiences and knowledge through the exchange of parliamentary delegations.
It also aims to promote actions to develop collaboration between the two parliaments and initiatives to implement support and solidarity initiatives between the two legislative bodies, as well as the institutional strengthening of parliamentary administrations through training and capacity building for staff in matters related to parliamentary activity. The Protocol defines the principles, areas, and instruments of cooperation between the parties.
Parliamentary Cooperation Program
Secondly, the Secretaries-General of the National Assemblies of Angola, Pedro Agostinho de Neri, and of Cuba, Homero Acosta Alvarez, signed the Parliamentary Cooperation Program in the field of Parliamentary Administration.
The instrument, which aims to implement the Cooperation Protocol, proposes promoting the exchange of experiences, best practices, and technical knowledge between Parliamentary Administrations, with a view to increasing the efficiency, transparency, and modernization of services supporting legislative and oversight activities.
With a duration of two years (2025-2027), the Program highlights the areas of cooperation in parliamentary support, infrastructure management, health, hygiene, and occupational safety, information technology management, and institutional communication.
The parties agreed that the activities under the Program will be carried out in Angola and Cuba, including internships, seminars, short courses, and delegation exchanges.
Discussions between Delegations
The signing of the instruments, both political and parliamentary, were preceded by discussions between the Angolan and Cuban delegations, led by Carolina Cerqueira and Esteban Lazo Hernández, which reaffirmed the historic ties of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation that unite the two countries.
On the occasion, the President of the National Assembly of Angola thanked the “warm” reception in the “beautiful and historic” city of Havana.
She emphasized the relevance of revitalizing the Parliamentary Cooperation Protocol, now adapted to the new times and the changes that have occurred over the 13 years of its validity.
Carolina Cerqueira reviewed the organization and functioning of the Angolan parliament, spoke about the challenges facing this body, and presented the priorities of the current legislature.
“One of our focuses has been parliamentary diplomacy as a mechanism for strengthening and seeking best practices to improve parliamentary work.
This is how, in two years, we have hosted four important meetings of international and regional interparliamentary organizations,” he stated.
She also stated that Angolan parliamentarians have actively participated in multilateral consultation forums, which aim to jointly seek common, equitable, and sustainable solutions to current global issues, such as food security, the climate crisis, pandemics, armed conflicts, gender equality, the role of youth in the future of nations, and the prosperity of our countries.
The President of the National Assembly highlighted the new dynamic that has been established since this date in interparliamentary cooperation between Angola and Cuba, also marked by the strengthening of the historic bonds of friendship between the two countries.
The delegation includes deputies Manuel Dembo, Carla de Sousa, Helena Marciano, Alcides Sakala, Benedito Daniel, and the Secretary-General of the National Assembly, Pedro Agostinho de Neri, as well as the Angolan Ambassador to Cuba, Carlos Cruz Sardinha.
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