NEW YEAR MESSAGE BY HIS EXCELLENCY JOSÉ EDUARDO DOS SANTOS, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA

 
Luanda, 28th December 2011

 
Dear Compatriots,

 
One more year is nearing its end and, according to the tradition, this constitutes a moment to share with all of you some reflections on the most pressing problems that still worry us and also to leave here a message of hope and confidence.

 
We believe in a better future and in our people’s capacity to overcome all difficulties, even the most complex and difficult problems. Our history so teaches us.

 
On our own merits, we have managed to attain all we have wanted. With determination, courage, firmness and strong will to win we have conquered Independence, and later, Peace, we have built our State and are developing the Country in democracy.

 
All Angolans have contributed to reach where we are. It is legitimate, however, for us to want more. We can not give up because we have not yet realised our dream of building an Angola for everyone in which each family feels realised, enjoying the necessary for a decent life.

Some of our essential goals are still to be attained, such as eradicating famine, poverty and illiteracy; social injustices, intolerance, prejudices of racial, regional and tribal nature, etc.

 
Despite the positive results we have achieved, there is and will always be, as it is natural, because of the evolution and growth, which are aspects and problems that require more attention and priority settlement in the domains of education, health, housing, employment and supply of water and electricity.

The State, the Civil Society and the private sector must continue combining and increasing effort with the objective to:

- Correct what is bad;

- Improve what is good;

- Create new things where necessary to increase our capacity to respond and meet the needs of the society.

 
The path to development and progress is trodden with the work of each citizen and demands from each public or private enterprise and each public institution, a certain discipline, a clear orientation and responsible guidance.

 
It also requires the unity of the Nation, social cohesion, political stability and respect for citizens’ rights, freedoms and guarantees, as well the respect for the democratic institutions.

 
For this reason, we have to continue creating conditions in order that no national citizen feels excluded from the country’s process of growth or discriminated against for factors of subjective order.

The realisation of this intention of social inclusion requires the adoption of public policies that accelerate the integration of the economic agents of the informal sector into the formal economy and de-concentration of the administrative, economic, productive, social and cultural activity of the Country’s capital, and from the Provinces’ headquarters to municipalities, communes, towns and villages in order for us to channel there more technical, financial, material and human resources, through the public administration and enterprises and to combat regional asymmetries.
 

Thus, we will gradually create the conditions and opportunities for all to benefit from the environment of peace and from the fruits of National Reconstruction and development of the Country.

 
This trend will be accentuated as from 2012, thanks to a better coordination of the implementation of the Micro- Small and Medium Enterprise Law, of the National Programme of Rehabilitation of the Secondary and Tertiary Roads, of the Water for All Programme, of the Programme of Municipalisation of Health Care, of the Development Rural Trade Programme and the Social Housing Programme.
 

The said Law must be applied in a creative way in order to also benefit such entrepreneurs as women that deal in street vending, creators of culture like musicians, producers, dance and theatre associations, handicraft producers, plastic artists, etc.

 
I admit as natural the expectation and will to see all problems solved quickly. But we have the time against us.
 

All requires time to be done.

 
In 2012, only ten years will have gone by and the path trodden, since then, enables us to conclude that all that was at our reach was done for us to reach where we are.

 
What the Nation has done is positive and gives us the hope that we can do better now and reach the goals that we are planning at medium term and guarantee a better life for everyone.
 
 
DEAR COMPATRIOTS

 
The world is in constant transformation and it is understandable the wish of us all to aspire to a change of our lives to the better

This is a normal sentiment in the human being and which makes him move forward without stopping towards scoring more and more progress and wellbeing.

 
Our recent history has taught us, however, that the process of change can be brusque and radical or evolutive and smooth, by phases.

 
Radical processes cause disruption and great initial disorientation with grave social consequences.

Changes that occur through democratic process and dialogue, mutual comprehension, peaceful co-habitation and strict respect for legality, guarantee social and political stability.

In the year starting in the few coming days, we will hold for the third time elections to choose our National Assembly’s MPs and the President of the Republic, holder of the Executive Power.

Legal mechanisms are being created for these elections to be well organised, transparent and fair.

 
It is up to everyone, the voting citizens in particular, the great responsibility to make the right choice to guarantee the continuity of the construction of an Angola of peace, democracy and development.
 

Some Political Parties have already announced the candidate for the Presidency of the Republic whom they will support in the coming elections. Others will speak out soon, naturally.

We still have eight months ahead and what matters is that everyone, within their family, find in this Festive Season, the love and energy required for us to move forward, in a spirit of unity and social solidarity, defending the highest interests of the Angolan motherland.

 
May I wish you all,
 

HAPPY FEAST AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR