14 November 2008
Luanda — Angolan prime minister, António Paulo Kassoma, said Friday in Luanda that the Government National Plan and the State Budget for 2009 approved by the National Assembly, meet the interests of the citizens, as they were enriched by the people.
Paulo Kassoma was addressing the ordinary plenary session of the National Assembly (Angolan Parliament) that approved the draft Government National Plan and the State Budget for 2009, with 128 votes in favour, none against and 27 abstentions.
He said the plan followed the instructions from the ruling MPLA party governing programme of the September 5 this year that was designed with contributions from the citizens and other political parties that believed it contained policies turned to the improvement of the citizens' living.
The premier said he hopes that the MPs and the population, in general, will contribute to the drafting of programmes for their respective provinces, stating that some strategic actions will be run by special organs and other integrated in sectoral and municipal programmes.
According to him, a set of well designed actions have been considered for the elimination of imbalances among the provinces.
On the other hand, explaining the maintenance of the National Reconstruction Office, he said the organ was created to bring together the means controlled by the Angola Armed Forces and the Government efforts for the construction of strategic undertakings like railroads, airports and others.
He explained that following the Lusaka Peace accord and the Luena one later on, there was need for what turned out to be called the fourth branch that was intended to develop the military potential in the national reconstruction effort.
The prime minister added that after some reflection, it was decided for the maintenance of the said Office, taking into account the challenges for next year, improve the coordination with other sectors for the government to accomplish its goals.
On the other hand, he denied the existence of parallel organs. To him, there are institutions that complement one another in terms of management and implementation of common purposes.
As to the intervention of social partners, the official recalled that the head of State had instructed for the reinforcement of a coordination with the trade unions, professional associations and other such institutions, with a view to a joint implementation of government programmes and others of national interest.
He announced a meeting soon of the Social Concert Council to assess the state of the reflection on the national minimum salary, within the Framework of the relationship with the social partners.
The prime minister pledged to maintain the institutional dialogue with the MPs for the accomplishment of the recommendations from the National Assembly concerning the budget.
Paulo Kassoma also spoke of the need for a chain under which the Parliament passes the National Plan and concerned State Budget, the president orients, the Government executes, the parliament controls and the people applaud, to he satisfaction of everyone.
The plenary session was chaired by the Parliament speaker, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, and was attended by Government members, university students and other people interested.
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