- The 9th Extended Advisory Council of the Ministry of External Relations took place from the 11th to the 13th of April 2023, at the Venâncio de Moura Diplomatic Academy, in Luanda, under the motto “MIREX and Diplomatic Action in the Current International Context: Challenges and Prospects”.
His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Holder of Executive Power, chaired the opening session and gave, on occasion, an important speech containing guidelines for Angolan diplomacy in the present government cycle, having also evaluated the performance of the Executive in this field, and addressed the international political situation.
- His Excellency President of the Republic considered the work of diplomacy positive, referring to that, in recent years, it has been focused on raising the awareness of governments, businessmen, and investors in the context of mobilizing financing, attracting private investment, strengthening cooperation and repositioning of the country in Africa and in the world. He noted that international partners have focused on the Angolan market due to the significant improvement in the business environment.
3.Guided the Diplomatic and Consular Missions to dedicate particular attention to economic diplomacy and, in this context, to publicize: the country’s economic potential; the reduction of bureaucracy and other obstacles; the fight against corruption and impunity; the privatization program of critical public assets; among other measures.
4.His Excellency President of the Republic also pointed out factors to be known abroad: Angola’s adherence to the “Initiative of Transparency in Extractive Industries”, which offers more guarantees to investors, as well as the Angolan agricultural and energy potential, both likely to contribute, respectively, for reducing the world food deficit and carbon emissions.
5.His Excellency President of the Republic asked for attention to the problems of the diaspora, particularly legal and consular protection, for the same to be informed about the country’s reality and its involvement in the occasions of the nation’s anniversaries.
6.At the foreign level, he spoke of the need for the United Nations to play a central role in ensuring that the destinies of humanity are based on the norms of international law. He called for Security Council reform and the negotiated resolution of disputes in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
7.The works of the 9th Extended Advisory Council of the Ministry of External Relations were guided by His Excellency Téte António, Minister of External Relations, who comprehensively addressed political-diplomatic, strategic, administrative, financial, property, and judicial-legal issues.
8.The Advisory Board meeting analyzed and decided on the main issues relating to diplomatic activity in the geographical areas covered by the Angolan Embassies; on the organization and functioning of the Ministry of External Relations structures, including staff policy, appreciation of diplomatic career and social support; and about Angolan communities abroad.
9.It also addressed the insertion of Angolan staff in international, regional, and sub-regional organizations, reviewing the international political framework, particularly the impact of the current geopolitical disputes on the global and Angolan economies and the Country’s diplomacy.
10.Concerning diplomatic activity, Council members highlighted Angola’s recent achievements in the international arena, in particular, the progress in the process of pacification of states and regions in Africa; the opening of new political, technical, and economic cooperation routes in Asia; and the consolidation and expansion of bilateral ties with countries on the American and European continents.
11.Emphasized Angola’s contribution to the process of regional integration and promotion of free trade as ways for the economic development of African countries, of which the construction of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a corollary.
12.The participants also considered as important diplomatic achievements Angola’s performance in the presidency of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and the initiatives for the consolidation of its economic pillar; the leadership of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICRGL) and the assumption of the presidency of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OEACP).
13.Regarding the international political situation, the participants considered that the current geopolitical disputes in Europe and Asia negatively impact the structure of international relations, mainly in the global security system, trade, and the world economy. They recommended the necessary adjustments of the foreign policy and Angolan diplomacy in the face of possible changes in the world order while maintaining sight of the defense of the national interest.
14.The Council evaluated the performance of the Mirex External Executive Bodies, urging the placement of economic issues, promotion of trade relations, direct investment, and technology transfer at the center of its work, as well as permanent training of diplomats in these matters. It called for a commitment to public diplomacy and the continued strengthening of institutional cooperation.
15.Recommended the expansion of Angola’s diplomatic presence in regions of strategic interest whenever the country’s resources permit.
16.In the field of multilateral diplomacy, the Council defended the continued engagement and Angola’s commitment to the intergovernmental organizations of which it is a member, in line with its strategic interests. It recommended, however, the need to insert national staff in the international civil service, especially in organizations where Angola is under-represented. In this sense, it exhorted the elaboration, under the leadership of MIREX, of a “national insertion strategy of Angolan staff in international organizations”.
17.On the diaspora, the Council highlighted its contribution to the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of the country’s life and the need to guarantee its legal protection in the host countries, having recommended a statistical survey of the Angolan communities abroad, identification of their social status, migratory, labor and familial situations. It also urged the creation of associations in communities and the reactivation of the existing ones.
18.Finally, the Extended Advisory Council adopted a series of recommendations aiming to ensure improvements and efficiency in the Ministry of External Relations structures as well as others designed to solve the main concerns of its staff.
“FOR MIREX, ALL TOGETHER AND UNITED”
Done in Luanda, on the 13th of April 2023.-
