New York – The European Union (EU) reiterated its praise of Angolan Government and people for the September 5 legislative election, considered as transparent and with a satisfactory participation of voters (87,36 percent).

This was transmitted to Angolan Foreign minister, João Miranda, by the EU commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, during a work meeting, on the fringes of the 63rd session of world body’s General Assembly that started Tuesday in New York.

The meeting focused on the situation in Southern Africa, mainly the crisis in Zimbabwe, as well as its implications to the ongoing negotiations between the Government and the opposition, following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki as South African president.

Mebki is the mediator in the power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe, following the post-election crisis in that country.

The Angolan top diplomat was accompanied by the ambassadors Nelson Cosme and Manuel Augusto, respectively director for Africa and Middle East Division of the Foreign Ministry and representative to the African Union.

João Miranda is since Sunday in New York attending the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos.

On Monday, he attended a high level meeting on the need for Africa’s development, at which he spoke for a greater participation of developed and industrialised countries in partnerships with the continent.

On the same day, he signed with his colleague of Uruguai, Gonzalo Fernandez, a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the two Governments, before meeting a day later with his colleagues of Singapore, Italy and Norway.