According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to which VerAngola had access, the inauguration of the facilities of the future Embassy of Timor-Leste in Angola took place on Tuesday night.
The embassy's facilities are located in Luanda, namely at Rua Amílcar Cabral, no. 102 and 104, in the Urban District of Maianga, municipality of Luanda, according to the ministry.
"As part of the reciprocal desire to strengthen cooperative relations and deep friendship between Angola and Timor-Leste, Téte António, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, and Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, signed the term of delivery of the Diplomatic Chancellery of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the Republic of Angola", reads the statement.
The official handover of the facilities was led by the Timorese President, José Ramos-Horta, who is on a three-day visit to Angola.
On the occasion, Ramos-Horta stated that his country will open its first embassy in Angola this year.
The Timorese head of state expressed gratitude and praised the local government for quickly providing facilities for the embassy, having announced that an ambassador from Timor-Leste to Angola has already been appointed.
"As soon as I return to Dili, I have an appointment with him to receive the credentials and come to Luanda as quickly as possible," he said, in statements to the press, cited by Angop, at the end of the formal handover ceremony of the facilities.
According to Ramos-Horta, it is up to his Executive to send a team to put the embassy into operation and begin monitoring the implementation of signed agreements, as well as exploring ideas for possible new memoranda.
Regarding the Angolan embassy in Timor-Leste, he said it is an important milestone given that it is the first PALOP country (Portuguese-Speaking African Countries) to establish an embassy in Dili, being committed to supporting the Angolan diplomatic representation in Timor-Leste and at regional level, in order to maintain mutual collaboration, writes Angop.
Téte António highlighted that the action symbolizes the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries, as Timor-Leste has already welcomed the Angolan ambassador to that country.
In addition to handing over the facilities, this Tuesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs held a private meeting with his Timorese counterpart, Bendito dos Santos Freitas.
According to another note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to which VerAngola had access, the meeting served to "analyze aspects inherent to bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste".
"The meeting took place in the headquarters building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (...) and served for the two entities to assess the degree of cooperation existing between the two countries, identify new areas of cooperation, as well as exchange views on relevant matters of national, regional and international character", the note reads.
