MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Angolan diplomacy aimed at
enhancing Angola’s international
engagement
T
he fourth annual meeting of Ambassadors of the
Republic of Angola was
held in Luanda from 9 to 11
January 2013 to review and assess the
government’s foreign policy strategy,
examine the broad lines for the period 2012-2017 of the programme
of the government elected in August
2012, redefine positions on current
challenges with a view to future action and strengthening Angola’s
competitive position internationally.
The Government Programme for
the period 2012-2017 ascribes essentially the following challenges to
the Ministry of External Relations:
• Strengthening Angola’s position
internationally and regionally;
• Strengthening and expanding bilateral and multilateral
relations.
The formal opening session
was addressed by His Excellency
Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti,
Minister of External Relations, representing His Excellency Eng. José
Eduardo dos Santos, President of
the Republic of Angola.
In his opening speech, His
Excellency the Minister of External
Dr. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Angolan Minister of External Relations
Relations described as priorities the
establishment and strengthening
of cooperation with all countries in
the world, giving priority to partners in regional and sub-regional
blocs to which Angola belongs (the
Economic Community of Central
African States, the Southern
African Development Community,
the Conference of the Great
Lakes Region, the Gulf of Guinea
Commission, the community of
WEZA 05 - Jan/Fev 2013
Director:
Embaixador Miguel Neto
Editor & Proofreading:
António Nascimento
Photography:
Quim Mbaya
Translation:
Marga Holness
Graphic Design:
Kassim Design
Copies:
2000 exemplares
Printer:
Capital Printers
Graphic Execution:
Press Office of the Embassy
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.angola.org.uk
Address:
22 Dorset Street
London
W1U 6QY
United Kingdom
Tel: 020-72999850
Fax: 020-79354960
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
African Countries with Portuguese
as their Official Language and
the Community of Portuguese
Language Countries), with the aim
of guaranteeing the fulfilment of national interests while respecting the
sovereignty and territorial integrity
of other States.
The Minister stressed that the
work of diplomats should be geared
to active diplomacy, based on mutual
respect and reciprocal advantage,
urging ambassadors to promote the
country’s image abroad.
With regard to Angolans abroad,
he said ambassadors should work to
organise the Angolan diaspora, developing and encouraging patriotism
and solidarity.
The participants debated bilateral and multilateral Angolan foreign policy issues, assessing the state
of political, diplomatic and bilateral
cooperation relations, and the constraints and prospects.
They made an exhaustive analysis of many current international issues and others related to the internal organisation and running of the
Ministry, namely:
General views on the international situation:
• The situation in Africa and
the Middle East and regional
organisations
• The situation in Europe
• The situation in Asia and
Oceania
• Angolan communities abroad
• Management of human resources, budget and assets
• Migration policy, institutional marketing and
telecommunications
In their analyses and discussion
of the items on the agenda the participants took a historical view of political events in the world and noted
that despite countless international
institutions and global, continental and regional treaties to facilitate
relations between countries in the
world, there were still situations of
international conflict and tension.
The participants also considered
that the shortcomings in the integration process in Africa and the advent of new conflicts in Africa were
due to:
• Political instability and governance problems;
• Poor infrastructure and economic services;
• Widespread malnourishment;
• Greed for natural resources;
• Big power interference;
• Control of resources.
The participants discussed the
economic and financial crisis in the
euro zone and its implications for relations of cooperation with Angola.
They stressed the importance of
Euro-Asia as a factor in geopoliti-
cal equilibrium and the influence of
the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia,
India, China) in cooperation with
African countries.
They attached special importance
to the active role Angola plays in
regional and international organisations in defending national interests and world peace, security and
stability.
The problem of Angolan communities in the Diaspora was discussed,
emphasising the need to pay special
attention to them within the general
framework of assisting nationals.
The participants praised the efforts made by His Excellency the
President of the Republic, José
Eduardo dos Santos, in conducting the country’s foreign policy and
stressed his active role in seeking solutions for different problems affecting Africa and the world
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Eng. José Eduardo dos Santos, Angolan Republic President
Address by His Excellency José Eduardo dos Santos,
President of the Republic of Angola,
at a ceremony for the presentation of New Year greetings
by the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Angola
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
H
ere we are at the start of
a New Year, which I hope
will bring many successes
to the personal and professional lives of everyone here.
I thank you for the kind wishes
and encouraging words the Dean expressed on his own behalf and that
of all the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Angola.
The statement that Angola is
progressing and solving its problems
wisely gives the world a true image
of the evolution of our country.
It is important that all members
of the diplomatic corps continue to
stress this idea, because this will help
to correct the distorted view and
some prejudices of certain sectors of
the International Community that
still not do believe in the renewal of
Africa.
In just over ten years of peace we
have been able to promote national
reconciliation and restore the hope
of a better life for all Angolans.
It is with a feeling of a duty fulfilled that we have once again made
available to our entire people modern basic infrastructure to make the
economic and social development of
the country possible.
The state, and especially its democratic institutions, is being consolidated, based on the principles of the
rule of law and the sovereignty of the
people, through which peaceful social relations and civic participation
in the solution of national problems
are promoted, even in a continent
like ours, where conflicts and political crises are starting to reappear.
We have never let ourselves be
influenced by the “Afro-pessimism”
propagated by a certain elite in the
recent past.
We have always believed in
change and the renewal of Africa
and in the way of conducting politics
in this continent.
It is no mere accident that
Angola is in a process of effective
democratisation that permits peace,
stability, economic growth and social
progress.
We are a part of this world, which
is characterised by global change and
the progressive and positive alteration of the international political and
economic order.
With the advent of emerging
economic powers the international
climate is becoming increasingly
multi-polar and underdeveloped
countries have new opportunities in
finding ways to achieve growth and
progress.
rebellion as means of solving internal contradictions or gaining State
power.
Governments legitimised by the
free choice of citizens at the polls
must not be deposed by rebel forces
or anti-democratic processes.
Today Africa has new droves of
refugees living in inhuman conditions and this is unacceptable.
This is why the situation prevailing in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Mali, the Central African
Republic and Guinea Bissau is a reversal in the democratisation of our
continent.
DEAN OF THE DIPLOMATIC
CORPS
YOURS EXCELLENCIES
AMBASSADORS
It is a historical circumstance that
Africa must not fail to take advantage of.
But the African continent is not
the only scenario of such perverse
events.
This is why we strongly condemn
the return to armed violence and
The situation in the Middle East
is also worsening day by day and it
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
is imperative that dialogue and the
political concerting of views between
the principal actors take place, seeking internal and international agreements leading to the preservation of
peace and international security.
It is necessary to enshrine and
achieve the principle of the existence
and recognition of two sovereign
states of Israel and Palestine.
They say that “while there is life
there is hope”.
This is why I am convinced that
many crises will be overcome or
attenuated.
I also believe that the current
tendency of growing Islamisation of
states and the causes of the economic and financial crisis in Europe will
be better controlled or overcome in
this and following years.
It is an ever more interdependent world that humanity wants, a
balanced world in which concerting views, harmonising interests and
seeking consensus will be the motivation and purpose of leaders who
deal with international relations.
I also request of all those present
that we work together for that world
of peace, security and understanding
among nations.
I wish you all
A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Partial view of Oxford Avenue, London City
United Kingdom wants to
support institutionalising
of local government in Angola
T
he United Kingdom wants
to support the institutionalising of local government
in the Republic of Angola
scheduled for 2014, within the framework of the relations of friendship and cooperation in many areas
between the two countries.
This was stated by Mark
Simmonds, Minister for Africa in
the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, during a recent visit to
Luanda aimed at strengthening relations between Angola and the
United Kingdom.
He said the United Kingdom was
prepared to help Angola to strengthen state institutions. “This country is an important strategic partner
owing not only to its potentials, but
to its political role in Southern Africa
and its recognition internationally”.
The British official said he considered that Angola had registered
the most development and economic
growth in the African continent over
the past ten years and that, therefore,
he had, taken advantage of his visit
to Luanda to discuss issues related
to investments and cooperation and
trade with Angolan authorities and
Manuel Augusto, Angolan StateSecretary of the Ministry of
External Relations
civil society.
British authorities have recently
shown themselves to be impressed
by the Angolan government programmes to increase electric power
and clean water supplies to the
population
Mark Simmonds, Minister for
Africa in the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office
British authorities have recently shown themselves to be impressed by the
Angolan government programmes to increase electric power and clean water
supplies to the population.
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Angolan Consulate
General inaugurated
in London
T
he Angolan community in
London will, as from now,
have the means to solve
one of its problems. This
is because of the recent opening of
an Angolan Consulate General in
London, the United Kingdom capital, in the presence of Angolan and
foreign diplomats, members of the
community and Angolan cultural
and artistic figures.
The ribbon was cut and the
plaque unveiled by the Angolan
Ambassador to Britain, Miguel
Gaspar Fernandes Neto, representing Minister of External Relations
Georges Rebelo Chikoti.
The Angolan Consulate General,
which is in Charing Cross in central
London, will provide services that
had been an excessive burden on the
Angolan Embassy.
In his speech the head of the
Angolan diplomatic mission in
London spoke of the importance of
the new Consulate General and the
strengthening of bilateral relations
between the United Kingdom and
the Republic of Angola.
He said the priorities of the consular programme included assisting
the work of the Embassy and other
matters related to the community,
promoting trade and investment and
further strengthening relations between the two countries.
Carlos Celestino e Silva, the
Angolan Consul General in London,
in turn described the new Consulate
General as an important means of
finding pragmatic solutions to many
of the technical and administrative
issues affecting Angolans, Britons
and people of other nationalities living in this country.
According to unofficial figures,
there are more than 25,000 Angolans
in the United Kingdom, forming
what is thought to be the second
biggest community in Europe after
Portugal
Ambassador Miguel G. Fernandes Neto, when unveiled the inaugural plaque of the new Consulate
General of Angola in London
MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
He said the priorities of the consular programme included assisting the work of
the Embassy and other matters related to the community, promoting trade and
investment and further strengthening relations between the two countries.
Diplomats of the Embassy of Angola to the United Kingdom and from the Angolan Consulate Mission in London
Interior partial view of the balcony of the new Angolan General Consulate in London
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Ambassador Miguel
Neto calls on
Angolans to
return home
S
peaking in Manchester
recently, Miguel Gaspar
Fernandes Neto, Angola’s
Ambassador to the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, called on all
Angolans living in Britain to return
to Angola voluntarily in order to
contribute to national reconstruction
and development.
The head of Angola’s diplomatic
mission in London was speaking
to young Angolans living in the
centre, north and northeast of the
country (Manchester, Birmingham,
Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool and
Stoke-on-Trent) who have completed their studies in various fields
but are working in areas unrelated to
their qualifications.
Ambassador Miguel Neto also
had words of encouragement for
community leaders, while asking
them to work more closely with the
diplomatic and consular mission and
be more involved with members of
their associations.
The meeting was also an occasion for the Angolan Ambassador to
talk about the economic growth taking place in Angola as well as business opportunities and the government’s strategy for achieving social
wellbeing.
During the meeting a documentary was screened showing current
economic development in Angola.
It was produced by the local social
media “Radio-Benguela Mais” and
“Pitanga TV” run by former journalists in the Angolan media now living
in the United Kingdom
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Angola’s armed struggle
for national liberation
started 52 years ago
T
he 52nd anniversary of the
start of the armed struggle
for national liberation was
celebrated on “4 February”.
The date is an unforgettable landmark in the history of resistance to
the Portuguese colonial-fascist regime to achieve Angola’s national
independence.
That action also reflected the
wishes of the people and the need to
move on to methods of struggle to
counter the rigidity of the colonial
administration.
This is why “4 February” 1961 is
regarded as an important landmark
in the African struggle against colonialism in a tradition of resistance
to occupation that goes back to the
people of Kassanje, Ndongo and the
Central Highlands.
The celebrations in the United
Kingdom took place in Manchester,
with cultural and recreational activities. Special mention should be
made of a meeting with community
leaders and a talk to stress the importance of “4 February” to the new
generation.
Minister Counsellor Eduardo
Neto Sangueve, representing His
Excellency Ambassador Miguel
Neto, spoke of the importance of the
date, encouraging the local Angolan
community to engage actively in all
aspects of work aimed at consolidating peace, national reconciliation
and rebuilding the country.
The meeting was also an opportunity for the diplomat to appeal to the
community to regularise their documents, documents which are one of
their basic rights, so as to avoid unnecessary problems
Eduardo Neto Sangueve, Minister-Consellour
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
New Angolan
National
Assembly
to be built
A
ngola’s new National Assembly is being built
in the Kinanga neighbourhood, municipality
of Samba, Luanda. Comprising four buildings on six hectares of land, it is scheduled to
be completed in four years’ time.
The foundation stone of the complex, to include the
parliament and support structures, has already been
laid by the President of the Republic, José Eduardo dos
Santos.
According to the presentation made by the Angolan
government to the Office of Special Works (GOE), the
four buildings will be built in neo-classic style.
The parliament will function in the first building, to
be built on an area of 6,200 square metres. The second
building, containing offices, will be the largest one, covering 33,000 square metres.
The third building will be for parking cars, with 485
places in an area of 21,000 square metres and, finally,
the fourth, covering 2,000 square metres, will house
services, equipment and security.
The first steps of the project were taken in 1998 and
the tender was awarded to the Teixeira Duarte construction company in February 2009.
Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, president of
the National Assembly, has said that the new buildings
will reflect the importance of the parliament and will
therefore be a source of pride for all Angolans
Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, President of
the Angolan National Assembly
MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
1st Angolan Recruitment
Forum in London
Elite Careers has held the first forum in the United Kingdom for
the recruitment of Angolans. It was held in the British capital and
attended by a very large number of Angolans living in this country.
E
lite Careers carried out 314
interviews and received
about 50 candidacies to be
meticulously assessed following careful examination by interested companies.
Members of the Angolan community in London expressed their
satisfaction at the Elite Careers initiative, since it will help to find positions for Angolans who have completed their education but are meanwhile doing jobs that have nothing
to do with their qualifications.
Elite Careers is a company specialised in locating human resources
for multinational companies. One of
its aims is to support the continuing
placement of Angolans on the national labour market, thus contributing to the reconstruction of the
country
Miguel Vieira, Elite Carrers
General Manager
Angolan graduated living in London bet for the contribution and
development of Angola
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Violeta Parente elected
Miss Angola United Kingdom
The seventh Miss
Angola United
Kingdom contest
recently held in London
elected Violeta
Parente, regarded
as the most beautiful
Angolan woman in the
United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern
Ireland.
T
Ambassador Miguel Neto congratulates Miss Angola United Kingdom 2012/2013
he beauty queen was
crowned before an audience of about 300 people, among them, notably,
Miguel Gaspar Fernandes Neto,
Angola’s Ambassador to the United
Kingdom, and Afonso Van-Dúnem
“Mbinda”, a MP in the National
Assembly and the MPLA Political
Bureau’s Secretary for International
Relations.
Also present at the gala were
Armando
Cadete,
Angola’s
Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea.
Carlos Celestino e Silva, Angola’s
Consul General in London, diplomats from the Embassy, representatives of Angola Airlines and
Sonangol, the state oil company, and
Samaia Tchapesseka, the Angolan
Miss Black Africa UK – 2012-2013.
A student of accountancy and
administration, Violeta Parente is
21 years old. The jury deemed she
made a difference owing to her intellectual ability, elegance and natural
beauty. She received the crown from
Rossana Silva, Miss Angola United
Kingdom in 2011.
The jury elected Carla Semedo
first lady in waiting and Daniela
Gonçalves second lady in waiting,
while young Deyse Miguel was given the title Miss Sympathy.
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
The choice of the winners was
made by a jury presided over by the
Angolan Paulo Correia, which included Carla Baptista, Miss Angola
Portugal 2004, and a representative of the Portuguese Embassy in
London.
Certified by the Miss Angola
Committee in Luanda, the seventh Miss Angola United Kingdom
contest was organised by Mukanus
Productions with support from the
Angolan Embassy in London and
institutions like Angola Airlines and
Sonangol.
The gala was enhanced by the
Angolan musicians Don Kikas, Nya
Lou and the Lock Mira duo
Ambassador Miguel Neto with Afonso VanDúnem “Mbinda”, MPLA Political Bureau’s
Secretary for International Relations
Violeta Parente receive the crown from
Rossana Silva, Miss Angola United
Kingdom in 2011
Angolan Ambassador to Equatorial Guine, Armando
Cadete, with Diplomats of the Mission
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Angolan
culture in the
United Kingdom
The name of the Republic of Angola is
increasingly referred to in British society because
of the professional and cultural activity taking place in
the Angolan community in the United Kingdom.
T
oday the colours of Angola’s
national flag can be seen in
such areas as the legal profession, culture, sport, social networks and other recreational sites in this country, owing
to the dynamism and
commitment shown by
Angolans here.
New talents emerging on the local scene,
like musicians, sports
personalities, lawyers,
models and gastronomes
are little by little establishing themselves,
helping to raise the
colours of Angola’s
national flag on
high.
Most of them
are educated people
who, in many cases,
are not working on
their own professions
but have still done
their best to help to
enhance the image
of
Angola.
The
Angolan
Embassy in the
United Kingdom has supported some initiatives, while encouraging
those who want to contribute to
the reconstruction and development
under way in Angola to return to the
country.
There are an estimated 25,000
Angolans living in the United
Kingdom, mainly in cities like
London, Manchester, Birmingham,
Leeds, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent,
Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle
Dra. Ricardina Pederneira,
Solicitors and Commissioners
for Oaths
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
Angolan musician and composer, Hélder
Tavares “Derito” and his band
Journalist Nuno Teixeira of “Radio-Benguela
Mais”, living in Sheffield
Angolan singer and composer, Vânia Lourenço
“Nya Lou”, living in London
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Angola out of the
Cup of Nations 2013
in South Africa
A
ngola is out of the African Cup of
Nations in Football being held in South
Africa. The “Palancas Negras” qualified
for the African Cup of Nations, CAN
2013, when they beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in a match
held at “11 November Stadium” in Luanda. The
goals of the “Palancas Negras” were scored by
Manucho Gonçalves at 4th and 6th minutes both
during the first time of the game.
With this effort Angola joined Cape
Verde, other PALOP’s country that eliminated
Cameroon, which also qualified for the African
Cup of Nations.
This is the seventh time that Angola takes
part in the CAN finals. Angola’s best results were
when it reached the quarter finals in Ghana in
2008 and when it organised the tournament in
2010. Zambia currently holds the trophy
African Cup of Nations groups
A South Africa, Angola, Cape Verde and
Morocco
B Ghana, Mali, Niger and DR Congo
C Zambia, Nigeria, Burkina Fasso and Ethiopia
D Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Algeria and Togo
Angola National Team
Zambia National Team
Tunisia National Team
Algeria National Team
Cape Verde National Team
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MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05
RDC National Team
Ivory Coast National Team
Ethiopia National Team
Ghana National Team
Mali National Team
Morocco National Team
Nigeria National Team
Burquina Faso National Team
Togo National Team
South Africa National Team
Comunidade
MAGAZINE OF THE EMBASSY OF ANGOLA 2013 - N. 05