19 April 2008
New York — The Angolan minister of Foreign Affairs, João Bernardo de Miranda, left New York on Friday for Angola, after having represented President José Eduardo dos Santos in the top level meeting of the UN Security Council, on the co-operation between that organ and the African Union (AU)'s Peace and Security Council, an event that took place on 15-17 April.
The gathering, held under the initiative of South Africa, in its capacity as chair country of the UN Security Council for this month, analysed ways to solve some conflicts that still persist in the African continent, as well as peace consolidation and the strengthening of democracy in other states.
The speakers at the meeting unanimously agreed on the need for a closer co-operation between the sub-regional organisations and the United Nations, chiefly with the UN Security Council, aiming for peace, stability and development in the world.
Delivering his speech at the event, João Bernardo de Miranda reiterated the Angolan government's commitment to working devotedly and disinterestedly with the African Union (AU)'s Peace and Security Council and the sub-regional organisations it is part of, to find peaceful solutions to the conflicts that still prevail in some countries of the continent.
The Foreign minister defended that in order for the UN and the AU to respond efficiently to issues relating to co-operation in the field of prevention, management and settlement of conflicts, it is paramount to have a more comprehensive approach to matters of peace and security, without separating them from development concerns, for they are decisive factors to the success of peace-keeping operations.
As regards Angola, João Miranda said that six years after the end of the decades-long armed conflict that devastated the country, peace and national reconciliation are consolidated, as well as democracy, which will be reinforced with the holding of legislative and presidential elections in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
The top diplomat explained that in the African context, peace consolidation should result from the combination of several factors, such as the conception and application of a coherent national reconciliation policy, as well as the implementation of economic reforms that are bound to offer ample spaces for free initiative of national and foreign citizens.
He also pointed out the need for constant strengthening of state authority as an imperative to consolidate the democratic institutions and the respect and protection of human rights.
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