Geneva — Angola, represented by the National Assembly first vice speaker, João Lourenço, Wednesday in Geneva (Switzerland) attended the 19th ordinary session of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) that elected the Namibian Theo-Ben Gurirab as its head.

Ben Gurirab, who got 200 votes against his Indonesian opponent's 130, is thus replacing Italian Ferdinando Casini in the leadership of the organisation whose main task is to mediate multilateral contacts among parliaments from the five continents.

The session that opened on Monday, discussed issues related to statutes and regulations of the organisation, promotion of non-proliferation of firearms and nuclear disarmament and the enforcement of the treaty on full ban on nuclear tests.

The participants also tackled issues concerning climatic changes, lasting and development models, renewable energies, freedom of expression and right to information.

They analysed as well topics for the agenda for the next session (120th) in 2009.

The Angolan delegation to the meeting included the MPs Albertina Teresa José (ruling MPLA party) and Clarisse Caputo (opposition Unita). The team also attended the meeting of the Association of Parliaments Secretaries General.