Luanda — Angola's National Assembly (parliament) speaker, Roberto de Almeida, Monday in Luanda praised the contribution of Mali to the country's pacification, highlighting the role of Alioune Blondin Beye, to whom he paid a homage.

Addressing the special extraordinary session of the National Assembly to honour the visiting Malian parliament speaker, Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, Roberto de Almeida said the devastating effect of the Angolan armed conflict required a great effort to bring the parties closer and make peace.

According to him, in the framework of the efforts, it was remarkable the figure of a distinguished diplomat, untiring negotiator that fell for the cause of peace in Angola, maitre "Alioune Blondin Beye", whom he said was a respectable son of Mali and of Africa.

Roberto de Almeida also praised the contribute made by the Government and people of Mali to the liberation of Africa, with reflex on the Angolan cause. "Mali always occupied the place of vanguard in the fight against colonialism, even before the foundation of OAU, when the so-called " Casablanca Group" made the voice of oppressed Africa heard at international areopagus where the problem of independence of Angola was a priority on the agenda of those organisations," he stressed.

The Malian parliament speaker who will stay in the country until Saturday, laid a wreath of flowers at the Independence Square, in homage to the first president of Angola, Agostinho Neto, ahead of attending the National Assembly's extraordinary session.

While in Angola, Ibrahim Boubakar Keita is to meet with the leaders of parliamentary groups and hold separate sessions with the ministers of Foreign Affairs, João Bernardo de Miranda, and Planning, Ana Dias Lourenço.

He will on Tuesday he will meet with the ministers of Territory Administration, Virgílio de Fontes Pereira, and Social Welfare, João Baptista Kussumua, ahead of visits to the Monument to the "4 de Fevereiro" Heroes and to the Kifangondo Historic Site.

Boubakar Keita will travel on Wednesday and Friday to the provinces of Bie and Cabinda, respectively.

On Thursday the visiting parliamentarian will visit the National Electoral Commission (CNE) and meet with the Malian community resident in Angola. A visit to the diamond lapidary plant is included on the agenda.