SPEECH PRONOUNCED BY HIS EXCELLENCY JOSÉ EDUARDO DOS SANTOS, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA, IN THE CERIMONY OF COMPLIMENTS OF NEW YEAR ON THE PART OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORP LUANDA,
15 of January of 2009
DEAR MISTER DEAN OF
DIPLOMATIC BODY,
MISTER AMBASSADORS AND CHARGER D’AFFAIRS,
ILLUSTRIOUS GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I thank the words of courtesy and friendship that had been directed to me by The Dean of the Diplomatic body on behalf of all the Ambassadors and Charger d’Affairs.
This ceremony that we carry through at the beginning of each year is always a pleasant occasion to dialog and to exchange points of view and information on the friendship and cooperation relations that connect us.
I fully share the opinions expressed by Mister Dean.
In the year that just finished, although some negative and preoccupying events, there were many positive aspects that must motivate our persistence and feed our optimism and hope in the capacity to find solutions and ways to face the difficult situations that we are going to have in 2009.
International financial crisis and the recession that affect the most developed economies of the world reach already all countries, and the circumstances in which they appeared and evolved, deserve of us all the deepest reflection.
It is not only about searching its causes and the ways to overcome them, but also of taking of them the due lessons, in order to prevent its repetition in the future.
The global character of the international economics relations determines that, directly or indirectly, in greater or minor scale, being or not in the epicentre of the crisis, no country can escape its effect.
A lesson that is clearly imposed, is that crises are not fate of the poor; the lack of good government and transparency, as well as the corruption, is not an exclusive insufficiency of the less developed countries.
They are insufficiencies and evils that exist in all human societies.
Good or bad instalment depends on the honesty, the politic will and the application of instruments of permanent and rigorous control on the acts that are practiced in the exercise of that instalment.
On the basis of this perception, it is logical to admit that a new position in the handling of the questions regarding the cooperation, the construction of partnerships and the dialog and consultation of interests is necessary.
A new position that excludes egoism and makes international relations more democratic, equitable and fair.
Also we consider that it is arrived the hour of finding the definitive solution for the many conflicts that still remain in some regions of the globe, in particular in the Middle East and Africa.
Some of these conflicts are aggravating dangerously, provoking dramatic humanitarian situations, which require urgent intervention.
It is not enough to establish provisory truces, is necessary that the causes that keep people private of their most elementary rights are profoundly modified.
The international community must, therefore, join efforts in the sense of searching, with realism and privileging always the dialog and the consultation, the most lasting and appropriate solutions for the problems that still affect and worry the Humanity.
Between these are also the illicit traffics of all nature and terrorism, the degradation of the environment, the great endemic diseases and pandemics like tuberculosis, malaria, sleep illness, etc.
It is, therefore, responsibility of each one of our States in particular, and of all of us as a whole, to become involved each time more in a conscientious and efficient way to construct a world of peace, capable to guarantee stability, security and well-being for all.
It cannot be left unmentioned the great expectation that the election of the first Afro-American for the presidency of the United States of America created, making believe that it will be possible to exist a sensible and positive change in the form as the biggest power of the planet leads its external politic and it relates with the other countries of the world.
We desire sincerely that it is so, that is, that this change is a reality.
Mister Dean,
Mister Ambassadors,
I believe, therefore, that the intentions that I related will also be able to contribute for the reinforcement of the good feelings that animate the diplomatic and politics relations with the countries so well represented in this meeting by your Excellencies.
I invite you to raise it your cups in a greeting to a NEW YEAR of peace and prosperity for all the present ones.
