The Director of Institutional Relations of the Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) and the Cátedra de Estudios Iberoamericanos y de la Iberofonía (Chair of Iberoamerican Studies and Iberophony), Dr. F. Álvaro Durántez Prados, pays tribute to Angola in a brilliant article published in the ABC newspaper, which covers its independent history, its geopolitical position, its relationship with Spain and the international community, and the importance within the world of Iberophony.
This year, Angola is celebrating 48 years of independence, a journey that, despite the hard trials it has undergone, has managed to overcome and emerge victorious, becoming one of the most important nations in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Durántez stated: “Angola is a central country in Africa, and not just in a geographical sense. Its strategic position, its diplomatic action, its territorial dimension, its growing demographic and economic weight, its cultural uniqueness, and, in short, its objective importance in the continental context is a reality that does not go unnoticed in the centers of international studies or in the ministries of the countries with interests in that part of the planet,” which constitutes a lucid observation about the African nation.
Spain and Angola have shared good diplomatic relations since the African nation gained independence, and Spain has recognized it since 1976. Since then, they have built a relationship based on respect and common interest, as Dr. Durántez pointed out.
The article also highlighted the importance of the pan-Iberian space, a term proposed by Dr. Durántez to delimit the space occupied by Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, comprising more than thirty countries on all continents with nearly 900 million people, making up one-fifth of the Earth’s surface. Angola is the main country of the continental Iberophony as the largest Portuguese-speaking African nation, a condition that gives it a differentiating element, linking it to Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries.
In recent years, the President of the Republic of Angola has visited the Kingdom of Spain, stating that he considers it a strategic partner in Europe. The King of Spain, Felipe VI, hosted the African leader, noting in his speech that “Spain always welcomes Angolans as part of the world of Iberophony.”
As a result of the good relationship between the African nation and Spain, the Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) has sponsored the Universidade Internacional do Cuanza (International University of Cuanza, UNIC), which shares the philosophy centered on Iberophony, becoming part of the network of universities with which the Foundation collaborates closely for the promotion of higher education.
The kings of the Kingdom of Spain and the authorities of FUNIBER have coincided in their visit to the UNIC campus this year, under the same spirit of collaboration and exchange with the African nation.
If you are subscribed to ABC newspaper, you can read the full article here.