On September 26, Cuba’s First Vice President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, placed a floral wreath before the monument to Angola’s founding father, Antonio Agostinho Neto (1922-1979).
Minister of Former Combatants and Motherland Veterans, Cándido Pereira van Dunem accompanied Díaz-Canel during his first activity after arriving in Angola on September 25, to attend the inauguration of President Joao Lourenço.
The monument to Neto is situated in Independence Square, where the poet and doctor proclaimed Angola’s independence, on the evening of November 11, 1975.
Following the ceremony, Díaz-Canel made his way to Doctor Antonio Agostinho Neto Memorial Square, to attend the inauguration of José Eduardo dos Santos a Lourenço, an Angolan Armed Forces General, who won the country’s presidential elections on August 23 with over 61% of the vote.
It’s incredible to see how the country has developed, which goes to show that peace is necessary, stated Díaz-Canel on arrival to Luanda.
Before departing on September 28, Cuba’s First Vice President will pay tribute to Cuban internationalist combatant Raúl Díaz Argüelles (killed by a landmine in 1975) and heroes of the battle of Kifangondo, which took place November 10, that same year, one day before Angola proclaimed independence.
DÍAZ-CANEL: CUBA WILL ALWAYS BE AT ANGOLA’S SIDE
Speaking in the capital city of Luanda, Cuba’s First Vice President, Miguel Díaz-Canel stated September 26 that the island will always be at Angola’s side; united by close cultural, fraternal, solidary, political and historic ties.
“We have come here to reaffirm our willingness to continue collaborating on all the programs being undertaken by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola,” stated Díaz-Canel on arrival at Doctor Antonio Agostinho Neto Memorial Square, where he attended the inauguration of President Joao Lourenço.
We will never forget that the men and women of this land, who were brought to Cuba as slaves, participated in our independence struggles, he stated.
“We participated alongside the Angolans in liberating Angola, in liberating the peoples of Africa and in abolishing apartheid, which is why we continue the struggle comrades,” noted the Cuban official in a brief exchange with the press.
(With information from PL)