ADVANCING  PHILIPPINE – ANGOLA RELATIONS:

PH AMBASSADOR AND ANGOLAN SECRETARY OF STATE  FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS SIGN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON

BILATERAL POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS

Left Photo : Philippine Ambassador Celia Anna M. Feria, non-resident Philippine Ambassador to Angola  and Angolan Secretary of State for External Relations  Esmeralda Mendonça  sign the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Political Consultations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Angola. Right Photo : Ambassador Feria and State Secretary Mendonça exchange respective copies of the  Memorandum of Understanding at ceremonies held at the  Angolan Ministry of External Relations in the Angolan capital city of Luanda on 19 December 2022. 

Luanda, 19 December 2022  - As part of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ continuing efforts to advance and institutionalize Philippine-Angola relations,   the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Political Consultations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Angola was signed today by Philippine Ambassador to Angola Celia Anna M. Feria and Angolan Secretary of State for External Relations Esmeralda Mendonça,  at ceremonies held at the Ministry of External Relations in Luanda.  

They were joined by Philippine Consul General a.h. in Angola,  Etienne Albert Brechet and Philippine Consul a.h. Megan Brechet-Amamou, and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Liza Tuiza and  Attache,  Consular Affairs  Edgar Dizon of Lisbon PE.  From the Angolan side were Dr. Miguel Dialamicua, Director for Asia and Oceania, Dr. Domingos da Silva Coelho, Director for Legal Affairs, Treaties and Litigation, and officials from the Office of the State Secretary and from the Directorate for Asia and Oceania.

This  first-ever Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the Philippines and Angola, establishes the process of regular political consultations at a diplomatic level to intensify dialogue  and cooperation between the Philippines and Angola on issues of mutual interest such as on bilateral relations, regional  and international issues, and implementation of bilateral and international agreements, among others.

In her remarks after the signing ceremony, Ambassador Feria underscored that “this Political Consultation mechanism is an important step forward in towards making our bilateral relations more responsive to the needs of our countries and people  and  will create the opportunity for a meeting of minds from both the Philippine and Angolan sides to discuss the way forward in our bilateral relations,  and  improve our people to people relations by facilitating and encouraging cooperation between institutions in each of our countries in many fields, including international relations, political, economic, commercial, scientific, technological, cultural, social and other fields.”

Left and Right photos : Philippine Ambassador Celia Anna M. Feria  and Angolan Secretary of State for External Relations Esmeralda Mendonça respectively, deliver their remarks following the signing ceremony of the Philippines-Angola MOU on Bilateral Political Consultations.  Middle Photo : Philippine Ambassador Celia Anna M. Feria and Angolan Secretary of State for External Relations pose for photos after the signing ceremony held at the Angolan Ministry of External Relations in Luanda. 

Ambassador Feria and State Secretary for External Relation  pose for photos at the entrance of the Angolan Ministry of External Relations (MIREX)  together with  their accompanying delegation members. Present at the signing for the Philippine side were Philippine Consul General a.h. in Angola,  Etienne Albert Brechet and Philippine Consul a.h. Megan Brechet-Amamou, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Liza Tuiza and  Attaché, Consular Affairs Mr. Edgar Dizon of Lisbon PE. From the Angolan side were Dr. Miguel Dialamicua, Director for Asia and Oceania, Dr. Domingos da Silva Coelho, Director for Legal Affairs, Treaties and Litigation, and other officials from the Office of the State Secretary and from the Directorate  for Asia and Oceania. 

The signing of this pioneering Memorandum of Understanding adds an  important  milestone to  Philippine-Angola bilateral relations which began in 1975 when the Republic of Angola was established, and when formal diplomatic relations  between our two countries were established 21 years ago in 2001.  In concluding her remarks,  Ambassador Feria underscored   “that Angola and the Philippines have been friends for many years.  This year we commemorated 21 years of formal diplomatic relations.  Yet our people to people ties goes back to decades before this, when the pioneering Filipinos came to Angola to work.  And Angola welcomed them.  For this we are most grateful and we thank the Angolan government for welcoming our Filipino brothers and sisters who have found their second home in Angola.”

As resident Philippine Ambassador in Lisbon, Portugal,  Ambassador Feria has non-resident jurisdiction over  four West African countries, namely Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé e Príncipe.  Prior to the signing, a 3-day consular outreach activity was held at the JEMBAS 3 facilities in Luanda, which coincided with the last day of the Filipino Sportsfest hosted by PIA-Pilipinos in Angola association, also held at the same facilities. END