Luanda — The figure of the former President of the Republic, José Eduardo dos Santos, in the consolidation of peace in Angola and in the regional and international context was praised Wednesday in Luanda by the diplomatic corps accredited in the country.
The recognition was made during the public wake, held in the Republic Square, on the occasion of the death of José Eduardo dos Santos, which occurred last Friday, due to illness, in Barcelona, Spain.
Manuel Lezarreta, the Spanish ambassador, considered the former Angolan president as "a very important figure for modern history", whose "dimension crosses Angola's borders".
Portugal's ambassador, Francisco Duarte, said he was saddened by the death of a leader who played an important role in bringing peace and national reconciliation to Angolans after a devastating war.
The US ambassador, Tulinabo Mushingi, said that Eduardo dos Santos will be remembered for the conquest of peace, for the adoption of the multiparty system and of the market economy in Angola.
Russia's ambassador, Vladimir Tararov, urged that the example of perseverance in the struggle for peace and stability in Angola be followed.
The head of the Chinese diplomatic mission, Gong Tao, pointed out that José Eduardo was a great politician who gave his life for the end of the internal conflict and for national reconstruction, leaving the continuation of strategic relations between the two states, with reciprocal advantages.
Attending the event, the Cuban ambassador in Angola, Esther Cárdenas, said that her country shares with the Angolans the same feeling of the passing of José Eduardo dos Santos and, therefore, declared a day of national mourning.
The Polish ambassador, Piotr Mysliwiec, said that the late statesman will mark history forever and is an example for the whole world, for having managed to achieve the peace that the country needed.
The Japanese diplomat, Jiro Maruhashi, considered Dos Santos to be a leader with a fine touch.
The head of the Mozambican diplomatic mission, Osvalda Joana, said that Dos Santos' death was a loss for the whole of Africa.
He achieved peace in his country, the independence of Namibia and the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.
The minister counsellor at the Cape Verde embassy, Fernanda Fernando, conveyed the solidarity of her people with the Angolan.
At the same time as the diplomatic corps paid tribute to the late President, members of civil society, businessmen and anonymous citizens continued to gather in the Republic Square.
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Brito Sozinho and Emílio Guerra, personal friends of José Eduardo dos Santos, mourned his physical demise.
For diplomat Brito Sozinho, "it is a great sadness, I have lost not only a friend but also a brother".
He recalled that they left Luanda together to join the struggle for national liberation.
Emílio Guerra, also a diplomat, said that he met Dos Santos in 1962 in Leopold Ville, and that they were colleagues in the course of military telecommunications.
According to Emílio Guerra, Dos Santos was characterised by humility, he was a friend of his friends and a man of consensus.
As President of the Republic from 1979 to 2017, José Eduardo dos Santos's foreign policy priority was to consolidate Angola's role in the regional and international contexts, always taking the national interest into account.
He also advocated the strengthening of relations with the United Nations System, international financial institutions and the consolidation of bilateral relations between states.
José Eduardo was also in favour of strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations with all countries, giving priority to neighbouring countries.
