Cuban First Vice-president on Official Visit to Angola

Havana, March 17 (acn)Cuba´s first vice-president Miguel Diaz-Canel kicked off a three-day official visit to Angola, a second leg of an African tour that already took him to South Africa.

"We come to Angola to ratify our friendship and brotherhood, said Diaz-Canel upon his arrival in the capital Luanda where he was welcomed by Angolan foreign minister Georges Chicoty.
Speaking to reporters, Diaz-Canel said that "In Angola we have part of our historic and cultural roots and he referred to the struggle for the abolition of slavery, for independence and afterwards the joint fight with Angola to free the peoples of Africa from Apartheid.
"We have been able to collaborate for the construction of a more modern and more developed Angola for the benefit of its people, something of great value to us, he said."
The Cuban first vice-president is scheduled to meet with the president of the Angolan Parliament Fernando de Piedade dos Santos and later with vice-president Manuel Vicente. He will also visit the memorial of Agostinho Neto and meet with Defense minister Edeltrudes Costa.
Previously, the top Cuban official visited South Africa and he will later head for Namibia, where he will attend the inauguration of president-elect Hage G. Geingob.