According to statements by the Secretary of State for Culture, Aguinaldo Cristóvão, to the Portuguese radio TSF, "it makes sense that Portugal should reflect on the return of the museological heritage exported from Angola".
Also according to the minister, "the theme of the export and return of cultural goods is old and is very well inserted in the relations between the two countries". The Angolan Secretary of State referred that the return of these goods is a "healthy way to pay tribute to the cultural relations between Portugal and Angola".
Although this has already been an issue covered in contacts between Portugal/Angola, "there is still no process between the two parties to have the matter on the table", he added.
As for the deputy who has now brought the matter back on the agenda, the aim of her intervention is to "decolonize" museums and state monuments.
Since no process is yet underway, the Angolan Government has been studying the return of these goods to the country since 2008. "Angola is modernizing museums and we are still carrying out an inventory to estimate how many pieces will have been removed illegally from the country", says Aguinaldo Cristóvão to the radio.
