Speech by His Excellency Engº Manuel Domingos Vicente, VicePresident of the Republic of Angola, at the Meeting of the Defence
Ministers’ Committee of the International Conference on the Great
Lakes Region, 13th of June 2014, Talatona Conference Centre,
Luanda.
 Honourable Professor Ntumba Luaba, Executive Secretary of the
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region;
 Honourable General Odongo Jéjé, Minister of Defence of the Republic
of Uganda and Outgoing Chairperson of the ICGLR Defence Ministers’
Committee;
 Honourable Mr. João Lourenço, National Defence Minister of the
Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the ICGLR Defence Ministers’
Committee;
 Distinguished Defence Ministers of the ICGLR Member States;
 Your Excellencies Chiefs of Staff of the ICGLR Member States;
 Distinguished Ministers of the Republic of Angola;
 Generals, Officers and Distinguished Delegates;
 Distinguished Guests;
 Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great honour that, on behalf of His Excellency Eng. José
Eduardo dos Santos, President of the Republic of Angola and Acting
Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes
Region, I am pleased to address such distinguished entities here in this
city of Luanda to attend this important event.
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Therefore, I wish to welcome to our country the honourable Ministers,
Heads and members of Delegations, as well as the guests, hoping that
you enjoy the traditional and unique hospitality of the Angolan people.
Excellencies;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Following the joint efforts and strategies that member states of the
Conference have taken seriously and tirelessly, we are once again faced
with a highly important activity aimed at finding the mechanisms and
common methods to consolidate the peace process underway in the
Great Lakes Region.
Upon taking up the presidency of the International Conference on the
Great Lakes Region, last January, Angola started having the honourable
responsibility to help with its modest experience in search for
tranquillity in order for this important part of the African continent to
stop being a stage of conflict and wars, and to engage its transformation
into a region of economic and social growth.
In this viewpoint, conflicts in the Central African Republic, South
Sudan and the peace process in eastern region of the Democratic
Republic of Congo continue being a common concern and, therefore, the
subject of our priority, demanding our strength and union of action for
these countries to easily achieve a framework of institutional normality.
By making an in-depth analysis of the evolution of the situation in the
East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are pleased to recognize
that after the withdrawal of the M-23 from the war scenario, significant
improvements are evident in terms of control of the sovereignty of this
member country.
This fact encouraged the Armed Forces of the DRC to continue working
with the Peacekeeping Mission, operating there, aimed at removing the
residues of Negative Forces, including the ADF.
This same effort recently led to the surrendering of weapons and laying
down of firearms by the called Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda,
in the regions of Baleusa in North Kivu; and Lubumba in South Kivu
More detailed data will be presented and discussed at this meeting.
These victories show a positive outcome of the situation in that part of
the Congolese territory, as a result of the efforts by the Government and
the Armed Forces of the DRC, the United Nations, through MONUSCO,
the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes
Region and by SADC.
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Due to this, we commend countries part of the Intervention Brigade
that, together with FARDC and MONUSCO, continues combating the
negative forces.
We also encourage all those part of the rebellion to be aware of the need
for peace and obedience to the principle of dialogue to solve conflicts.
The Sixth Meeting of this Defence Ministers Committee has, among
others, the primary objective of analyzing the resolutions from the
meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Staff General, as well as assessing
the overall situation in the region, and particularly in countries where
some fighting still unfolds, so that better solutions can later be studied.
It should be remembered that, in addition to the armed conflict that the
Sub-region still faces, there are other evil acts which must be
eradicated, such as human trafficking, illegal immigration, illegal
exploitation and plundering of natural resources, maritime piracy and
terrorism, which are factors of instability in our continent and obstacles
to development.
Excellencies;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The achievement of the objectives of the International Conference on the
Great Lakes Region will heavily depend on our commitment and joint
dedication, so I urge the distinguished representatives of all Member
States to actively cooperate in the implementation of policies and
strategies
required
to
pursue
this
honourable
mission.
Angola recognizes the commitment of this committee’s outgoing
presidency, which is why I encourage the committee’s current
Chairperson to continue the work done so far, so that we continue to
obtain more success.
It is therefore important to stress the need for implementing our
organisation’s programme of action.
Before concluding, I would like to wish to all distinguished delegates a
vote of pleasant stay in the Homeland of Agostinho Neto and that the
discussions achieve the goals envisaged.
I hereby declare open the Sixth Meeting of the Defence Ministers’
Committee of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.
Thank you very much for your attention!
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