Luanda — Angolan prime minister, António Paulo Kassoma, Monday in Luanda, said that the current state of the country encourages "high optimism and hope", both for its economic and social performance and for the consolidation of national unity and democracy.

Paulo Kassoma was speaking at the first ordinary session of the Nacional Council for Social Concert, attended by members of the Government and representatives of trade unions, business and professional associations.

According to the prime minister, "we are today going through a cycle of our history, provided by peace, of which Angolans are the main actors, with the consequent regularisation of the country's sovereignty institutions, which permit to look at the future with high optimism and hope.

The premier also spoke of the peace achieved in 2002, after "hard years of war, destruction of economic and social infrastructures, living in mine-ridden areas and displacement of people" which, he added, while belonging to the past, should not be forgotten.

He also expressed the Government readiness to continue providing "pertinent and sufficient" information on projects underway, adding that the Government Programme and State Budget for 2009 are under Parliament's specialised commission discussion for approval.

The official said the information will cover such projects and programmes as those on funding of business activity, economic and social fields, rehabilitation and construction of infrastructures, provincial programmes and improvement and increment of basic services to the populations.

Paulo Kassoma appealed to the active participation of the civil society, mainly the social partners, for the efficacy of the Government programmes.

The agenda of the meeting included matters related to Government actions for next year, the 2009 State Budget and the evolution of the national minimum salary.

The Luanda and Lobito ports and the schedule for the sessions of the National Council for Social Concert next year are also on the agenda.