Belgrade: President Joo Louren§o on Tuesday paid tribute to the founder of the Angolan nation, Antonio Agostinho Neto, by laying a wreath at his monument in Belgrade, Serbia. Accompanied by the First Lady of Angola, Ana Dias Louren§o, the Head of State also observed a minute of silence in memory of the first President of Angola, as part of his three-day official visit to that European country.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the monument was inaugurated on November 17, 2022, and is the first statue of the founder of the Angolan nation erected outside national territory. The artwork, created by Serbian sculptor Katarina Tripkovic, is located on an avenue in Belgrade that also bears the name of Antonio Agostinho Neto.
The tribute symbolizes the deep historical ties of friendship between Angola and the former Yugoslavia, forged by Presidents Antonio Agostinho Neto and Josip Broz Tito, two of the main driving forces behind the Non-Aligned Movement. The relationship between the two statesmen dates back to the period of the national liberation struggle and Angola's independence consolidation process, with Yugoslavia playing an important role in providing political support for Angolan sovereignty.
In recent years, the space has become a landmark for the Angolan community residing in Serbia and regularly hosts commemorative activities related to National Independence Day and other dates of historical significance. The tribute to Antonio Agostinho Neto was part of the agenda for the second day of President Joo Louren§o's official visit to the Republic of Serbia, marked by the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
