Luanda — Angola will take over in December in 2013 the two-year presidency of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, in replacement of Uganda.

According to a press note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that reached Angop on Thursday, the decision was made in the Sixth Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which ended on Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Angolan Foreign minister, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, attended the heads of State session on behalf of president José Eduardo dos Santos.

The meeting analysed the reports of Defence Ministers Committee of Great Lakes Region and mediator of the peace negotiations between DRC and M23 movement, as well as the implementation rate of the accords regarding peace, security and development in DR Congo and Great Lakes Region.

At the end of the meeting, the heads of state and government or their representatives in the 6th extraordinary summit approved a 20-point declaration on the situation of security in the Great Lakes Region and in the east of DRC.

The declaration highlights the appeal for rapid conclusion of talks between the DRC government and M23.

The final document reiterates the call for the M23 to end with the war against the Congolese government.

The Angolan delegation was comprised by the Defence minister, Candido Van-Dúnem, State secretary of Foreign Affairs, Manuel Augusto, the director for Africa, Middle East and Regional Organisations of the mentioned ministry, Joaquim do Espírito Santo, the deputy chief of staff of the Angolan Armed Forces, gen. António Egidio dos Santos and ambassador to Kenya, Ambrósio Lukoki.

The team also integrated the national coordinator of Great Lakes Region, Coimbra Batista and senior employees of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defence.