FM Dendias meets with Angola’s President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who is paying an official visit to Angola, was received on Tuesday by President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.

The meeting focused on boosting the two countries’ cooperation, and matters regarding the International Law of the Sea and regional security issues. In statements following the meeting, Dendias told journalists that he thanked Lourenço for Angola’s support as Greece seeks to gain one of the seats at the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member.

“Angola’s vote is extremely important, because it is a large African country, which in turn influences the vote of a number of other countries,” he pointed out.

The Greek minister added that several agreements with Angola are under consideration, while an memorandum of understanding for political consultations was signed on Tuesday between both countries’ foreign ministries. These “can provide the framework for a broader cooperation with Angola,” said Dendias.

Additionally, Dendias extended to Angola’s president Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou’s invitation to visit Greece.

Meeting with Mendonça

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias met on Tuesday with Angola’s Secretary of State for External Relations Esmeralda Mendonça in Luanda.

The talks focused on the strengthening of the bilateral ties and on the cooperation at bilateral and multilateral level, the shared commitment to the International Law, the regional developments and the tackling of COVID-19.

The Foreign Minister of Angola Tete Antonio was tested positive for coronavirus before his meeting with Dendias and Mendonça replaced him at the meeting.

Additionally, in the presence of Dendias, the Greek Ambassador to Congo with concurrent accreditation to Angola Kalliope Ntouti co-signed with Mendonça a memoradum of understanding (MoU) on political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries

Sports gift

The Greek government presented the Youth and Sports Ministry of Angola a gift to fund programs of the Okuhateca Sports School, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

The donation was presented on behalf of the Greek government by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who is visiting the African state as part of an effort to activate Greek foreign policy relations on the continent, and was made in the presence of Angolan State Minister for Youth Fernando Francisco João.