João Lourenço, who was speaking at the opening of a meeting with the country's military leaderships at the army headquarters, which this Thursday celebrated its 29th anniversary, assured that despite the economy being a priority on the state's agenda, attention will continue to be paid to the need to maintain the defence and security forces with a high capacity to respond "to all potential internal and external threats that may endanger national security".
The head of state stressed that defense and security forces are indispensable to the survival of any state, yet they always represent a considerable expense to any country's budget.
"For this reason, although they are important in all circumstances, including in a situation of peace and stability, their numbers must be adjusted permanently according to the greater or lesser imminence of conflict," noted João Lourenço.
"If on the one hand we must do this exercise, of resizing the FAA, but taking care to maintain its operational capacity, with fewer personnel, better prepared and with more modern and efficient weaponry and technique, on the other hand, we are also called to find some self-sufficiency in the production of food, uniforms and boots, barracks utensils and other logistic goods of great daily consumption by the troops," he added.
The President also expressed concern over the reform of the country's defence and security forces, pointing out that alternatives to financing the Angolan Armed Forces Social Security Fund (FAA), the National Police Social Fund and its Intelligence Services counterpart are needed.
These bodies "have the responsibility of ensuring a dignified life for the pensioners of these Castro institutions", but up to the present, João Lourenço stressed, they have been supported "almost exclusively by the State General Budget".
"We know that the condition of being retired is not always well regarded by everyone, because we are not always prepared, from the psychological point of view, to face this new reality, which, not being a fatality, someday ends up knocking on our door, but that the human being normally has the tendency to think that it only reaches others," he emphasized.
The President argued that retirees can be useful in passing on the experiences acquired over the years, in the War College, in the Military Technical Institute, in the military academies of the branches, in the academy of the National Police and in general in the different military and police teaching establishments.
"Even retired people, we can continue to transmit the knowledge of our specialty, acquired over the years and thus gradually replace foreign cooperation and with it reduce foreign exchange spending, thus reducing the country's foreign debt," he said.
João Lourenço continued, "The contribution can also be made in recording the country's military history and organizing museums, monuments and military sites, "which cannot be limited to the Fortresses of Luanda, Kifangondo and Cuito Cuanavale.
"We also need to perpetuate the history of the Battles of Ntó, in Cabinda, Ebo, Cuanza Sul, Cangamba, Moxico, Cahama, Cunene, the cities of Huambo, Cuito, Luena and others no less important, while many of the protagonists of these battles are alive and able to relate these glorious experiences," he said.
