The minister of the External Relations of Angola, Manuel Domingos Augusto, stated today that Africa must cease looking at Europe as the “eternal guilty of its problems” and that both continents should evolve to mutual beneficial coalitions.

“The approach between Europe and Africa is unavoidable. Europe is the main economic partner of Africa and Africa is the depositary of big raw materials, some of them fundamental to the European industry, that’s why, there is an interdependency relationship”, said the head of the Angolan diplomacy, that today participated on the 1st EurAfrican Forum.

Manuel Augusto appealed to both continents to follow-up the “movement of the time” and to give up “paradigms that are already out-of-date” and “psychological taboos” that are harmful for both. Just like the paternalism of Europe with Africa still occurs, “sometimes, involuntarily”, Africa also “should stop look at Europe as the eternal guilty of its problems and the only source to the resolution of their problems.

When asked about the creation of free trade areas in Africa, the minister agreed that it is necessary to start the creation of “specific mechanisms”, because “it is not conceivable that the banana produced in Benin goes to Europe to be bought by Angola”. The “partnership with Europe” is important to solve problems such as the lack of communication routes or a developed industry and should be faced in a positive way.   “It is necessary to consolidate the notion that the fact that Angola and other countries want factories to transform their products doesn’t mean less business for the European countries. In fact, we are inviting the European countries to come to a market almost virgin to invest and to build the factories”, highlighted.

Manuel Domingos congratulated with the choice of Portugal to receive the first edition of the event organized by the Portuguese Diaspora Council and restated that the relationship between Portugal and Angola are “really good”. About the date of the visit of prime-minister António Costa to Luanda, he confirmed that it won’t be after September, adding that “it will be communicated of the due time and through the due channels.”

 

By Lusa, July 2018