Luanda — The peace and security still pose major challenges to the countries of Gulf of Guinea, said the Angolan Foreign minister, George Chikoti.

The minister was addressing an opening ceremony of Conference on Peace and Security in Gulf of Guinea, underway in Luanda, on behalf of the Angolan president, José Eduardo dos Santos.

The minister recalled that these assumptions result of the finding of the prevalence, either of conflicts or armed actions triggered systematically or sporadic against some member countries.

He also pointed out the extreme poverty and misery affecting major groups of the world population, particularly in Africa, with stress to the region.

The official added that the improvement of regional organisations is a need, as this ensures the effective fulfilment of its objectives, solving some major problems that affect communities.

The minister highlighted the enormous potential of the region's countries in natural resources, placing it the second largest forest in the world or the third in water catching basin.

He also spoke of the huge reserves of oil and natural gas, which gives it an undeniable strategic importance overall, catapulting the zone of vital interest and relevance to the world economy.

Therefore, Georges Chikoti concluded that these realities make the Gulf of Guinea Conference indispensable partner in sub-zone of the Atlantic.