The National Assembly will decide whether to extend its mandate beyond that date. Meanwhile, the government intends to create the necessary conditions in the event that new elections do take place in 2001. We wish to stabilize the democratic process once and for all, thereby guaranteeing the functioning of institutions and the holding of regular elections. Citizens should be given the opportunity to decide for themselves whether we have fulfilled our electoral promises. We would like once again to state that it is unnecessary to resort to war as a means of gaining political power in Angola.
Political parties gain power at the ballot box.
Review of 1999 Distinguished members of the government, as a whole 1999 was a positive year. We have regained the upper hand in the military field. This has allowed us to liberate most of the territory that was under enemy occupation, notably in the central highlands and in the border areas. It has been possible to reinstate government administration in locations, including those where the government's presence had not been felt for more than two decades. We have renewed the hope of a great many people who had been forced to flee their homes.