Brussels - The Angolan ambassador to Belgium, Elizabeth Simbrão stressed the decisive engagement of the first president of Angola, Agostinho Neto, in the struggle against Portuguese colonialism that led to the country's independence, on 11November 1975.

Speaking at event that marked the celebrations of September 17, the National Hero's Day, the ambassador underlined that the people recognize his action in the fight for freedom in Zimbabwe, Namibia and the abolition of the apartheid regime in South Africa.

According to her, Dr. António Agostinho Neto was driving force of national unity who considered Angola, after its independence, as a united, indivisible nation.

The diplomat also underlined that the first president  considered Angola a nation free from cultural and racial or tribal discrimination, where the most important was not the colour of the men and women's skin, not even their political or religious affiliation, but the patriotic sense of the brotherhood and the socialization within the respect for difference.

To remember Agostinho Neto, statues were erected across the country.

At the same time, a newsletter of the Embassy of Angola in Belgium "ANGO-NOUVELLES" was officially launched with the aim to primarily inform on political and economic vision of the Angolan government and disseminate the image of the country abroad.