Security Council Meetings Coverage
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Security Council United Nations Meetings Coverage Department of Public Information • News Coverage and Accreditation Service • New York Security Council SC/6359 3767th and 3769th Meetings (AM & PM) 16 April 1997 SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS ANGOLA VERIFICATION MISSION UNTIL 30 JUNE, V^, _^~-» ••"''' WITH UNDERSTANDING OF TRANSITION TOWARDS OBSERVER MISSION Adopting Resolution 1106 (1997) Unanimously, Council Requests Report by 6 June on Continued UN Presence The Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) until 30 June 1997, with the understanding that the Mission would proceed with the transition towards an observer mission that would focus on political, police and human rights aspects, as well as on humanitarian and public information programmes in support of the national reconciliation process. Following two meetings and statements by 29 speakers on the situation in Angola, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1106 (1997) by which it also requested the Secretary-General to complete the withdrawal of UNAVEM III military units as scheduled, taking into account progress in the remaining relevant aspects of the peace process. The Council expressed its intention to consider the establishment of a follow-on United Nations presence to succeed UNAVEM III and requested the Secretary-General to submit a report, no later than 6 June, containing recommendations regarding the structure, specific goals and cost implications of such a mission. Reiterating the importance of full implementation by the Government of Angola and the National Union, for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) of their commitments to the peace process, the Council strongly urged them to complete without delay the remaining military aspects of the process, including the incorporation of UNITA soldiers into the Angolan Armed Forces and demobilization, and the selection and incorporation of UNITA personnel into the Angolan National Police. The Council also urged the parties to complete the normalization of State administration throughout the national territory. The Council also expressed its hope for a meeting between the President of Angola and the leader of UNITA. (page la follows) For information media - not an offical record - also available at http://www.un.org/news Security Council - la - Press Release SC/6359 3767th and 3769th Meetings (AM & PM) 16 April 1997 The representative of Angola said the formation of a government of national unity did not mean that the peace process was finished. None the less, Angolans could now turn to the establishment of the rule of law under which individual and collective rights were respected and in which political differences could be resolved in parliament. Although national reconstruction was a challenge requiring continued international support, the future of Angola was now in the hands of Angolans. Expressing the concern voiced by most speakers over the need to complete the political and military aspects of the Lusaka Protocol, the representative of the Russian Federation said failure to resolve those issues could lead to new difficulties. He called on the parties to fulfil the remaining aspects of the peace process. The representative of the United States expressed concern over persistent reports of Angolan involvement in the conflict in Zaire. He called upon all Angolans to put an immediate halt to such actions and to give their full support to the international effort to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict on the basis of the United Nations five-point peace plan. In response, the representative of Angola denied allegations that the Angolan Government had participated in the conflict in Zaire. Angola had never been involved in another country's internal affairs, although Zaire had assisted UNITA in fighting against the Angolan Government ever since independence, he said. Speaking as a representative of his country, the President of the Council, Antonio Monteiro (Portugal), said "Peace, prosperity and democracy are the separate threads that will unite Angola in a joint destiny". National reconciliation must mean national unity in a democracy. He called on the parties to proceed in such a way as to contribute always to regional peace and stability. Statements were also made by the representatives of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Poland, France, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt, Kenya, Sweden, Costa Rica, Malawi, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay, Mozambique, Cameroon, Argentina, Lesotho, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Qatar, Peru, Botswana and Chile. The first meeting on the item began at 11:30 a.m. and was adjourned at 12:46 p.m. The second meeting, which began at 3:40 p.m., was adjourned at 5:26 p.m. (Page 2 follows) Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/S359 3767th Meeting (AM) 16 April 1997 Work Programme The Security Council met this morning to consider the situation in Angola. The Council had before it two progress reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III). In a 14 April report (document S/1997/304), the Secretary-General recommends the extension of the mandate of the Mission until 30 June, on the understanding that the operation will gradually proceed with the transition towards an observer mission. The Council last extended the mandate until 16 April in its resolution 1102 (1997) of 31 March. Further extension was predicated on the status of the installation of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation. In that regard, the Secretary-General reports that the new Government was inaugurated during a 11 April ceremony attended by heads of State and government and other dignitaries from other countries. Previously, on 8 April, the National Assembly had enacted a law on the special status of Jonas Savimbi as the president of the largest opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The following day 67 of 70 UNITA members were sworn in as members of the National Assembly. The Secretary-General is of the view that the international community should remain engaged in Angola until the Lusaka Protocol is fully implemented. Should the UNAVEM III extension be granted, he further recommends that the observer mission, to be known as the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (UNOMA), be formally established on 1 July. He intends to submit the financial implications for that Mission well in advance of that date. The main activities of the observer mission would focus on political, police and human rights aspects, as well as on humanitarian and public information programmes aimed at supporting and consolidating the national reconciliation process, in order to create conditions conducive to political stability, economic and social recovery and sustainable development. Overall, the Secretary-General states that the developments of the last two weeks have been very encouraging. He expresses the hope that rapid progress could now be made in completing the implementation of other aspects of the 1994 Lusaka Protocol (the comprehensive peace agreement between the Angolan Government and UNITA) in a spirit of cooperation and mutual accommodation. The long-awaited meeting between President Eduardo dos Santos and Mr. Savimbi should now take place in order to consolidate the progress which has been achieved towards national reconciliation. The report indicates that the Joint Commission monitoring the Lusaka Protocol -- with representatives from the Angolan Government, UNITA, the (more) Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6359 3767th Meeting (AM) 16 April 1997 United Nations and the observer countries of the United States, Russian Federation and Portugal -- held an extraordinary meeting on 31 March. At that meeting particular concern was expressed about the slow pace of incorporation of selected UNITA soldiers into the Armed Forces and the National Police. Four special groups were then dispatched to quartering areas/selection and demobilization centres to assess the situation and to identify steps which have been taken to accelerate the process. The groups' recommendations, which included the need to improve coordination, logistic support and instructions to UNITA commanders, will be considered shortly by the Joint Commission. The Secretary-General reports that the gradual withdrawal of the formed military units of UNAVEM III was proceeding, with the next withdrawal scheduled for 20 April. The phased drawdown will continue and, in light of the situation on the ground, the process should be completed by the end of August. He expresses serious concern, however, about reports of involvement by the Angolan parties in the Zairian conflict. Both parties have denied any support for the warring parties in Zaire, but any such interference would have serious consequences for the efforts to end the current crisis, he adds. The other report (document S/1997/115 of 7 February), was first considered by the Council on 27 February, when, by adopting resolution 1098 (1997), the Council extended the Mission's mandate for one month, until 31 March. By that text, the Council also expressed deep concern at delays in the formation of a unified government because of the failure of UNITA to meet an agreed-upon timetable. In that report, the Secretary-General states that the expeditious and unequivocal implementation of all remaining aspects of the Lusaka Protocol, which was agreed upon by the Government of Angola and UNITA in the Zambian capital in November 1994, involves