Addis Ababa - Angola remains committed to contributions to lasting peaceful solutions to conflicts that affect the Great Lakes region.

This was said Thursday in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) by the Angolan secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Manuel Augusto.

Manuel Augusto was speaking to journalists on the fringes of the African Union Executive Council meeting taking place in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to prepare the 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government set for July 15-16.

The official said that Angola, as a member of the peace and security council of the Great Lakes Conference and of the Economic Community of Central Africa States is and has been ready to make a contribution to solutions for the Great Lakes region.

Manuel Augusto spoke for an address of the deep causes of the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC).

He stated that stability in the DRC interest all African countries as it borders with nine nations, which requires a deeper and deeper approach for lasting solutions.

The secretary of State stated that the relation of animosity between the DRC and Rwanda must be settled by the two countries, with the help of all other parties.

On the other hand, Manuel Augusto welcomed the creation, ten years ago, of the Great Lakes Conference, stressing that at that time it was already perceivable that although a punctual solution to the conflict in DRC had be found, it could be recurrent and cyclical.

He explained that the Great Lakes Conference is an important forum for the search for solutions to problems that affect a regions of which Angola is part.

Meanwhile, Manuel Augusto informed that a meeting on the Great Lakes was held in Addis Ababa, adding that he hopes that the recommendations thereof be submitted to the heads of State, so that Rwanda and DRC can get assisted to stop confrontation.

He also deplored that the summits of heads of State and Government continue focusing on matters of peace and security, instead of development, progress and wellbeing of the
populations.