Luanda — The extraordinary meeting of ministers of Education and Culture of the Portuguese Speaking Community (CPLP), attended by Angola as a member country, closed Saturday in Lisbon, Portugal.

At the end of the two-day session, the Education ministers or their representatives from the eight member countries of the community signed a final declaration containing some commitments to the Portuguese language and respective cultures.

A source from the Angolan delegation to the meeting told Angop the event appealed to the member states to ratify the protocols on alterations to the Portuguese language and implement the orthographic Accord.

The meeting also recommended the countries that have already ratified the accord to set a common date for its implementation and use in documents and officials publications, the source said.

According to the same source, another decision from the meeting has to do with supporting the establishment of a commission to draft the Common Orthographic Vocabulary.

The member states are also urged to promote the use of Portuguese language as an official and work language within the United Nations system and international and regional organisation or specialised agencies.

The meeting attended by representatives of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor, also decided that member states should set up a portal on their respective cultures and Portuguese language.

The members of the community are also recommended to expand and deepen the processes of digitalisation and coordination of documents in Portuguese.

Another decision mandates the CPLP Executive Secretariat to submit to the Council of Ministers of the community the proposal on a Portuguese Language Day.

The recommendations include some on the future International Institute of Portuguese Language (IILP), as well as re-definition of its mission and institutionalisation by member countries.

On the other hand, the participant decided to examine the adjustment of the juridical instruments that rule the functioning of the IILP and its financial and human resources to the mission assigned.

As a means for the reinforcement of the teaching of Portuguese language, the meeting recommended the strengthening of reading in member countries, through national reader plans and information technology.

The participants also decided to encourage the member Sates to adopt customs and fiscal measures that facilitate the access to books.

As to institutional cooperation, the meeting recommended the Executive Secretariat to work with the member Sates in the creation of a national commission for the establishment of a common internet television.

Angola was represented at the meeting by the ministers of Education and Culture, Burity da Silva, and Rosa Cruz e Silva, respectively.