Dakar — The Angolan Minister of Energy and Water Affairs, Botelho de Vasconcelos is representing the country in the world forum on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) opened today, in Dakar, Senegal under the theme, local and national actions and solutions for everyone.

Organised by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), the event aims to speed up the execution of measures on the water supply, sanitation and hygiene, tending to enable the achievement of the Millennium development goals.

The actions to be undertaken depend on the acquisition of funds, holding of partnerships, reinforcement of the capacities and the authority of the organisations and the local public powers, in order to proceed with changes so that "Wash" can attain a place of distinction in the development process.

Sensitising the world opinion about the objectives of "Wash" and define political guidance and concrete experiences for the activities of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, are amongst other aspects to be tackled during the meeting.

At the opening session, chaired by the Senegalese Minister of Justice, Serigne Diop, in representation of Prime-Minister, Macky Sall, there have been read messages from the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, and the director general of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to the organisers, nearly 400 people are participating in the works that will continue until December 4th.

Accompanied the Angolan Energy and Water Affairs Minister, the directors of his office and of the Office for the Administration of Cunene Rivers' Hydrograph Basin (Gabhic), respectively Massamba Cardoso and Gomes da Silva.