Angola and Germany are to sign a cultural agreement Friday to promote the German language and bilateral ties originating from a legacy of allegiance with the former East German state (GDR), DPA reported. Speaking during a visit to the German capital by Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "we have a good relationship, as a result of Angolans who came to the GDR for their education and in part also to work." "Many Angolans, living in Angola now know the German language and culture," Merkel added. The agreement includes plans to open a branch of Germany's cultural ambassador, the Goethe Institute, in Angola. Economic issues were also the order of the day, and dos Santos stressed the importance for the Angolan economy to diversify. The economic crisis, dos Santos said, was negatively impacting the price of Angola's natural resources. "Our biggest worry is the drop in revenue in the state budget, as a result of the drop in prices in the sale of petroleum and diamonds," the Angolan president said. This, he said, had a negative impact on public investment programmes the country had planned, but now lacked adequate financial means to carry out. For this reason, dos Santos said, Angola has requested funding from Germany and other countries. In addition, he said, Angola was keen to advertise the country's open market, where "private investors can equally find good opportunities for their projects." Merkel in turn stressed the need to continue investing in developing countries, despite current economic hardships. "We know that, if people in Africa have no perspective, we will have to deal with violent confrontations and refugee movements," Merkel said, adding that it was prudent to keep the investments flowing, from an African as well as a European perspective. A German-Angolan business summit is also scheduled to take place Friday, where Santos will meet with German Economics Minister, Karl- Theodor zu Guttenberg to discuss economic ties between the two countries.
