Luanda – The professor at the Université Libre de Bruxells (ULB), Paulette Pierso Mathy, said in Brussels
that president Agostinho Neto was an intellectual totally dedicated to the cause of oppressed people.

The scholar made the statement in an act which marked the commemorations of September 17 (Neto’s birthday), National
Hero’s Day in Angola, in an initiative of the Angolan Embassy in Belgium.

Paulette Pierson Mathy, a figure of the Committee of Support for the Fight against colonialism and apartheid that have invited
Agostinho Neto and his delegation to visit Belgium in 1973, informed having accompanied personally the former president
Neto in every meeting.

According to Paulette Pierson, Agostinho Neto organised intense political and diplomatic activities for the decolonisation of
Angola while he was in Belgium. 

During his stay in Belgium, Agostinho Neto was received by political, religious and trade-union  officials and made contacts
with the community and European political groups, with stress on Mário Soares (former Portuguese president), as well as with
Portuguese deserters that opposed colonialism in Angola.