![\"Angola](\"http:\/\/allafrica.com\/img\/static\/publishers\/minibanners\/angop180.jpg\" "\\"Visit")
<\/a><\/p>\n3 December 2011<\/p>\n
\n
Luanda \u2014 The president of the ruling MPLA party, Jos\u00e9 Eduardo dos Santos, Saturday in Luanda praised the contribution and sacrifices made by the militants of his party and anonymous patriots, for the independence, preservation of sovereignty and integrity of the Angolan nation.<\/p>\n
The head of State made this statement while speaking at the opening of the award of medals to militants, friends, supporters, agencies and organisations that have contributed to the affirmation of the ruling MPLA in the national context, as part of celebrations of the party’s 55th foundation anniversary, to be marked on December 10.<\/p>\n
“We are here to recognise and praise the merits of many people present in this room and many other great patriots who have already left us, whose committed and victorious struggle, surrounded by enormous setbacks, allowed to free Angola and build what we have today,” he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that the event constitutes a major political and social significance as well as an important initiative that takes place at a time when the MPLA is preparing to mark the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation and the thirty-sixth at the helm of Angola as a sovereign and independent nation.<\/p>\n
According to the president, it is a time when we can not forget Agostinho Neto as the central political figure in our history and source of inspiration for the struggle that our party leads from his death to the present day.<\/p>\n
The statesman also recalled the many years of struggle and commitment to the materialisation of the deepest aspirations of the Angolan people, in domestic and international context of many difficulties and serious attempts against the sovereignty and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n
AllAfrica – All the Time<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n