At the Presidential Palace in Cidade Alta and in the presence of the Angolan president, João Lourenço, and his Timorese counterpart, the parties initialed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral political consultations between the ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries.

The Timorese Foreign Minister, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and his Angolan counterpart, Téte António, were in charge of signing the document, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding between Angola’s Venancio de Moura Diplomatic Academy and the Center for Diplomatic Studies of the Oceanic nation.

The parties also signed an agreement for the exemption of visas for diplomatic and service passports.

Ramos Horta arrived in Luanda the day before and on Monday morning held talks with President Lourenço.

He also visited the António Agostinho Neto Memorial and paid homage to Angola’s National Hero, who was the country’s first president.

He told the press that Neto is a personality to whom hours of study should be devoted, as well as to make him known to the new generations, so that his ideas may endure.

The agenda of the Timorese president also includes a visit to the Angolan National Assembly, where he will be received by the president of the Legislative, Carolina Cerqueira, and will participate in a solemn session dedicated to his presence in the country.

Angola and Timor Leste established diplomatic relations on May 20, 2002 and belong to the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).

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