Luanda - A tribute paid to Angola's first President, António Agostinho Neto, marked Thursday, in Havana, Cuba, the celebrations of the 48th anniversary of the National Independence to be marked on November 11.
Angolans and Cubans gathered at the African Heroes Park in the Cuban capital, where there are bronze images of 15 African leaders who contributed decisively to the fight against colonialism and to the unity of Africa.
On the occasion, the Angolan ambassador to Cuba, Cândida Teixeira, laid a wreath of flowers on the bust of Agostinho Neto, highlighting his figure as the founding of the Angolan nation and as a "man of all times".
“Agostinho Neto knew how to interpret the feelings of independence of his people and face the bloody process with determination and firmness, when great dangers and obstacles tried to prevent the realization of that precious good that is freedom,” the diplomat said.
The vice-president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, Victor Gaute, on his turn, highlighted the long path of fraternity and solidarity with the Cuban revolution built by Agostinho Neto since the sixties.
Cuba has been a strategic partner of Angola since the Southern African nation’s National Independence in 1975, and supported it in the war against the "apartheid" regime in South Africa.
The two countries maintain cooperative relations in several domains, such as Security, Education, Health, Transport, Public Works, Construction, Sports, Culture, Tourism and Agriculture.
The two States established diplomatic ties on November 15, 1975, four days after Angola's independence and a year later signed a general cooperation agreement.
Angola celebrates 48 years of independence from Portuguese colonialism on November 11. VIC/CF/AMP
