Dendias donates COVID-19 vaccines, funding for sport programs to Angola on behalf of Greece

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who is paying an official visit to Angola, was received on Tuesday by President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.

The meeting focused on boosting the two countries' cooperation, and matters regarding the International Law of the Sea and regional security issues.

In statements following the meeting, Dendias told journalists that he thanked Lourenço for Angola's support as Greece seeks to gain one of the seats at the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member.

"Angola's vote is extremely important, because it is a large African country, which in turn influences the vote of a number of other countries," he pointed out.

The Greek minister added that several agreements with Angola are under consideration, while an memorandum of understanding for political consultations was signed on Tuesday between both countries' foreign ministries.

These "can provide the framework for a broader cooperation with Angola," said Dendias.

Additionally, Dendias extended to Angola's president Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou's invitation to visit Greece.

Meeting with Mendonça

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias met on Tuesday with Angola's Secretary of State for External Relations Esmeralda Mendonça in Luanda.

The talks focused on the strengthening of the bilateral ties and on the cooperation at bilateral and multilateral level, the shared commitment to the International Law, the regional developments and the tackling of COVID-19.

The Foreign Minister of Angola Tete Antonio was tested positive for COVID-19 before his meeting with Dendias and Mendonça replaced him at the meeting.

Additionally, in the presence of Dendias, the Greek Ambassador to Congo with concurrent accreditation to Angola Kalliope Ntouti co-signed with Mendonça a memoradum of understanding (MoU) on political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries

Sports gift

The Greek government presented the Youth and Sports Ministry of Angola a gift to fund programs of the Okuhateca Sports School, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

The donation was presented on behalf of the Greek government by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who is visiting the African state as part of an effort to activate Greek foreign policy relations on the continent.

The donation was made in the presence of Angolan State Minister for Youth Fernando Francisco João.

Vaccines donation

Greece donated 100,000 vaccines to Angola, as part of a commitment by Greece to help in the international fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the foreign minister said during his visit to the African country.

He announced the gift during his meeting with Angolan Health Minister Silvia Lutucuta.

On Monday, while visiting Abuja, Dendias announced that Greece is donating 907,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria through the World Health Organization's Covax mechanism.

READ MORE: Greece and Nigeria linked through Giannis Antetokounmpo says Greek FM; donates 900,000 vaccines.