Africa-Press – Angola. Angola’s interventions in defense of multilateralism, social justice, world peace, among other values, made at the United Nations General Assembly, were highlighted in press’s political news in the week ending saturday.
The week began with the participation of the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, in New York (USA), at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, as part of the High-Level Week of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
As President of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Angolan statesman defended the coordination of efforts to eliminate conflicts, instability, insecurity and unpredictability that discourage investment and international partners.
According to João Lourenço, Angola will continue to develop actions with a view to achieving the community’s 2050 vision in the future, which envisages a region with political and social stability, peaceful and developed from an economic, justice and freedom point of view.
On the other hand, in this same city, already within the framework of the General Debate of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, he defended the need for reforms of the Organization, especially the Security Council, to preserve world peace and stability.
The Head of State said it was imperative that these changes take into account the Ezulwini consensus and the Sirte Declaration, documents that establish the need to grant Africa seats as permanent members of the Security Council, with all the privileges inherent to the category.
João Lourenço that Angola defends the review of the representation of the different regions of the world, taking into account the promotion, respect and observance of the values established in these documents to correct the dangerous trajectory that the world took after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
On the other hand, he emphasized that Angola has assumed itself as a promoter of dialogue, which should not be limited to political and diplomatic spaces.
Also according to the President, the dialogue must cover a wide range of protagonists, namely civil society organizations, companies and individuals, with a prominent place for youth, a true driving force for development.
Likewise, he denounced the “existence of an invisible hand interested in the destabilization of the African continent”.
He said there is increasing evidence that these groups are simply concerned with expanding their sphere of influence.
Throughout these days, different diplomatic actions were launched, in the bilateral domain, with emphasis on meetings with some counterparts.
Another highlight, in the week ending saturday, was the announcement of the establishment of diplomatic offices between Angola and El Salvador, aiming to promote mutual understanding and strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation in areas of common interest.
The agreement was signed in New York City by the ministers of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Téte António, and of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, Alexandra Hill Tinoco.
In the field of the environment, Angola defended on Wednesday, at UN headquarters, the urgent establishment of a Fund for Losses and Damages, as an operational entity of the Financial Mechanism of the Climate Convention.
This need is stated in a document deposited at the UN, by the Minister of the Environment, Ana Paula de Carvalho, for whom the Fund must also serve the Paris Agreement, considering its sufficient capitalization with new contributions from public sources.
The Fund, which must provide financial assistance to nations most impacted by the effects of climate change, is a long-standing requirement of developing countries vulnerable to climate urgency.
Another highlight was the country’s participation, also at the United Nations headquarters, in the High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development 2023.
This meeting represents an important platform for Member States and interested parties to debate, at the level of Heads of State and/or Heads of Government, creative solutions to current challenges.
The event aimed to mobilize political support and advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda aimed at Sustainable Development.
The reaffirmation of the country’s commitment to the implementation of the Doha Action Program for the Least Developed Countries (LDC) also made headlines.
The commitment was made by the Minister of Economy and Planning, Mário Caetano João, having highlighted that a strategy is underway to respond to this program, approved by the UN General Assembly for the period 2022-2031.
The Doha Program of Action incorporates renewed and strengthened commitments between Least Developed Countries and their development partners, including the private sector, civil society and governments.
On the other hand, the Angolan Government’s engagement in combating climate change on a continent-wide level was highlighted, following an audience granted by the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, to members of the Southern African Center for Sciences and Services for Adaptation to Climate Change and Sustainable Soil Management (SASSCAL).
At the end of the hearing, the Angolan Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Maria do Rosário Bragança Sambo, outgoing president of the SASSCAL Council of Ministers, highlighted that the Vice-President was keen to emphasize the commitment of the Angolan Government and the President of the Republic in the fight against climate change”.
In the field of justice, the president of the Angolan Bar Association (OAA), Luís Monteiro, defended the reactivation of the Regional Court of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), suspended in 2010.
When speaking at the XXIII Conference and Annual General Assembly of SADC-LA, which took place in the Angolan capital, Luís Monteiro highlighted that there is a need to reopen the Court, aiming to consolidate “the defense of the interests of citizens and companies in the region”.
In relation to this matter, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Marcy Lopes, defended the strengthening of cooperation ties between the Angolan Bar Association (OAA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
According to the minister, greater interaction and exchange of ideas are necessary to find robust answers to the various burning issues that countries face, because this way democracy wins.
Also noteworthy was the announcement of the visit of the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America (USA), Lloyd Austin, to Angola, next week, to strengthen cooperation and explore paths for greater military exchange between the two countries.
According to the “Pentagon” (headquarters of the US Ministry of Defense), the visit will focus on building stronger defense relations and exploring paths for greater military cooperation between the United States of America and Angola.
At the beginning of the week, Angolans celebrate the 17th of September, in which the Minister of the Interior, Eugénio Laborinho calls on the new generation, especially the youngest, to continue the legacy of the Founder of the Nation, António Agostinho Neto.
The government official made this statement to the press, after having guided the act of Hoisting the Flag Monument, at the National Museum of Military History.
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