Africa-Press – Angola. Angola reaffirmed, on Thursday, at the UN headquarters in New York, the commitment of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, to resolving conflicts in the Great Lakes Region, in particular the dispute in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
When speaking at the plenary meeting of the Special Decolonization Committee on the agenda item entitled “Comprehensive Review of Special Political Missions” (MPEs), Ambassador Francisco José da Cruz highlighted the efforts aimed at alleviating tensions and normalizing diplomatic relations between the DRC and Rwanda.
The diplomat informed that, as current President of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Angola will host a SADC Summit on Saturday, 4th, in Luanda, to discuss the security challenges in the eastern region of the DRC, a country that is due to hold general elections next December.
Francisco José da Cruz reiterated that Angola has played an important role in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts, as well as promoting peace and democracy in Africa, especially in the Great Lakes Region, through diplomatic initiatives to reinforce permanent political dialogue , building mutual trust and cooperation to promote inclusive economic growth, prosperity and the common good.
According to the diplomat, as a peacemaking, peace-building and peace-loving country, the peaceful resolution of disputes and the promotion of international peace and security are the cornerstones of Angola’s foreign policy.
“We need to continue to promote preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, as they are intertwined with our national and international initiatives to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and realize our common aspirations to not let no one left behind”, he emphasized.
The diplomat recalled that Angola was one of the founding countries of the UN Peace Consolidation Commission (PBC), which elected its first President, in June 2006, the former Permanent Representative of the Republic of Angola to the UN, Ismael Gaspar Martins.
In relation to the UN Secretary-General’s report on the Comprehensive Review of Special Political Missions (MPEs), Francisco José da Cruz recognized the central role of Special Political Missions in promoting preventive diplomacy and finding solutions to conflicts or crisis situations specific.
Highlighted the role of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) as the secretariat of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Issues in Central Africa, which provides a framework for confidence-building, conflict prevention and resolution of States of this subregion of the continent.
Francisco da Cruz reaffirmed Angola’s support to the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region in the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Region, signed in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia, in February 2013, to achieve peace and security in Eastern DRC.
In relation to the challenges faced by MSEs in implementing their activities, particularly due to financial constraints, he praised their role as they operate in different and challenging environments and circumstances.
In this context, he encouraged cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in establishing joint MEPs to address peace and security issues on the continent.
The ambassador took the opportunity to reiterate the Republic of Angola’s commitment to supporting the central role of multilateralism in facing global challenges and opportunities and promoting the collective good.
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