Addis Ababa - Angola and Djibouti signed on Friday, in Addis Ababa, three agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including visa exemptions in diplomatic and service passports, ANGOP learned.
The three legal instruments were signed by the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, and his counterpart from Djibouti, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, on the sidelines of the 44th ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU).
The two countries are now equally linked by a General Agreement on Economic, Technical, Social and Scientific Cooperation, and by a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations.
According to a note distributed to the press, the latter focuses on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Angola and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti.
The document is based on the intention of strengthening the existing ties of friendship and cooperation, confirming the commitment of the two States to the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter and recognizing the benefits of communication and consultation at various levels, the note states.
In turn, the Visa Exemption Agreement establishes that citizens of both parties, holders of diplomatic and service passports, have the right to enter, leave and transit without a visa through the territory of the other party, at designated border crossing points for international passenger traffic.
Beneficiaries are authorized to stay in the territory of the other country for a maximum period of 90 days, within a visa-free period of 180 days.
The purpose of the General Cooperation Agreement is to lay the foundations for economic, technical, social and scientific cooperation between the interested institutions of the two countries, in the territory of each party, based on the principle of equality, reciprocity and sovereignty.
The note adds that Angola and Djibouti intend to cooperate in the political-diplomatic, Defense and Security, fight against terrorism, Industry, Commerce and Logistics, Transport and Infrastructure and Energy domains.
The two States also intend to share experiences in the field of port management and encourage exchanges within the private business sector. IZ/VC/DOJ
