Luanda, 27th December 2007

Angolan People, Dear Countrymen

One more year comes to an end, and respecting the tradition, I would like to share with you on this date the appreciation that is made of the country’s present situation.

Without glorifying ourselves, everybody realizes immediately that peace is being consolidated every day and that war has become a mere painful remembrance of the past.

Everyone also realizes the tragic consequences of that war which we still have to face and overcome together with tenacity, pragmatism and vision of the future.

For this reason, I ask you that we continue working together in order to win as soon as possible the battle on material and spiritual reconstruction of the Nation.

Working together to attain common objectives imply reinforcing the spirit of tolerance, national reconciliation and establishing in a sustainable manner the social harmony indispensable for the complete normalization of the social life and that of every family.

It also implies to get the collaboration of everyone to create a modern and open society, in which everybody is able to freely express his ideas and develop his own convictions and beliefs, provided that he respects the other person and has the notion of his rights.

The difficulties that the country still faces are enormous, but all the results obtained in the short period of peace demonstrate that Angola can guarantee a life with dignity to all its citizens in the future, if each one works well and seriously in his post.
Compared to the whole world Angola is the country that registers the highest economic growth.

We have to do everything at our disposal so that this growth lasts for a long period of time and promote in a sustainable manner the development.

Our economy needs to grow for a longer period much more than our population increases.

Thus, we can produce wider riches for distribution and will be able to fight poverty in a more efficient way, securing the improvement of social conditions of all citizens.

The Government is doing its part: the inflation is being kept under control and the management of the public finances is better articulated with the management of the currency and that of the international liquid reserves of the country.

The resources allocated for the social area, in these last two years, have continued to support social and productive reintegration of demobilized soldiers and internal displaced peoples during the war; have given priority to the improvement of basic social services; the promotion of social harmony and the significant reduction of hunger and misery.

I believe, for this reason, that we are in the good path but it is still quite a lot to do, above all in the periphery of the cities and in the rural areas.

The Government has to pay more attention to the families that live in those areas.

We are aware that the peasants are increasing their share in the working process. The workers in the factories and in the public works are increasingly complying with their mission.

The Angolan People have been assuming their historical responsibilities with maturity and spirit of solidarity.

I salute this patriotic behaviour and their sense of criticism about the reality of our country, which has enable to point finger at the mistakes made by the ministers and thus forcing them to choose a more correct path.

The Government will continue to pay more attention to the enterprises, and for a better economic performance of them it will work to ensure, among other things, the right of property; the respect of contracts; the right of the consumers; the protection of competition and the regulation of the public services conceded to private operators.

On the other hand, taking into consideration the reinforcement of national entrepreneurs, it will continue to promote a policy of credits with adequate conditions for payments, costs and insurances.

Finally it will pay more attention to the qualification of national labour force, by spreading in the whole national territory centres of professional education and technical improvement, to enable our youth to exercise a productive occupation.

Angolan People, Dear Countrymen

An increasingly rapprochement between the State and the Civil Society is equally a form to contribute to solve the serious social problems we still experience.

Though the governance of the country is, in principle, the responsibility of whom has the mandate of the People, the society can and must give its contribution to the preparation of the most important decisions of the Government.

To this effect it necessary that the channel of dialogue between the governing body and those governed is open and the rights of citizenship are plainly exercised.

The citizenship is the plainly and consciously assumption of the rights and responsibilities by everybody in the creation of our own well-being and the welfare of the society in general.

It should be exercised in everyday life through criticism and constructive proposals, or through concrete actions aiming at resolving the problems and the elimination of all hindrances to the improvement of the life conditions of the people.

In this context, to vote is an important exercise of citizenship.

In the year that begins soon, the Angolan citizens will be called to choose their own representatives to the Parliament.

It is a process that will deepen our democratic system and will allow it to function normally.

These elections must take place in a climate of peace, harmony and fraternity among all Angolans, without verbal or physical violence, with tolerance and respect of other people opinions and ideas.

The will of the Angolan people must be expressed with truth and without limitations on 5 and 6 of September 2008, in the legislative elections that will be convened in due time.

To that effect it is of capital importance that the complete security of all citizens are guaranteed as well as the protection of all their belongings, because the public order is an indispensable condition so at the citizens feel safe and can live without any stress or fears, in order to exercise their rights and duties.

The National Police, as guarantee of public order, has to give examples, and its officers and polis in general should carry themselves in a correct manner by respecting the human lives, public and private property.

It is only then the Police Corporation would correspond to the expectancy of the Angolan People.
We shall all be aware of the good moments the country experience.

It is a moment of hope and great confidence in the future.

The Angolan People is making successes and obtaining victories in almost all areas. These facts make us proud and filled with emotions and they increase our self-esteem.

We shall continue working together to obtain new successes for everyone prosperity and happiness.

I wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.