SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR FORMATION OF ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

30 January 1997

Press Release
SC/6319

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR FORMATION OF ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

19970130 Presidential Statement Cites Failure by UNITA to Meet Lusaka Protocol Timetable, Slow Pace of UNITA Demobilization

The Security Council this afternoon called upon the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) to strictly implement the 23 January Joint Commission agreement and to form a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation (GNUR) without further delay.

In statement read by its President, Hisashi Owada (Japan), the Council said that failure to implement the agreement could jeopardize the peace process and make the Council consider appropriate measures, as indicated in relevant Security Council resolutions, against those responsible for the delays.

Under the terms of the Joint Commission Agreement on 23 January, taken note of by the Council: the Angolan Government and UNITA agreed to postpone the inauguration of the GNUR beyond 25 January; UNITA agreed to ensure that all of its National Assembly deputies and designated members of the future GNUR would be in Luanda on 12 February; and the Government agreed to set the date for the GNUR's inauguration immediately after the arrival of UNITA deputies.

The Council expressed deep concern at the delay in the GNUR's formation as a result of UNITA's failure to meet the timetable established by the Joint Commission in the context of the Lusaka Protocol of 20 November 1994. It also noted with concern the slow implementation of the remaining military aspects of the peace process, particularly the demobilization and integration of UNITA soldiers into the Angolan Armed Forces.

The Joint Commission was established under the Lusaka Protocol to monitor the implementation of both the Peace Accords, signed by the Angolan parties on 31 May 1991, and the Protocol itself, which was signed on 20 November 1994. The Commission consists of the Angolan Government and UNITA as members, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General as Chairman, and Portugal, the Russian Federation and the United States as observers.

The Council today, while emphasizing that the ultimate responsibility for restoring peace lay with Angolans themselves, reminded the Government and UNITA that the international community could only help if progress was achieved in the peace process. It was in that context that the international community would consider a United Nations presence in the country after the end of the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) on 28 February.

The meeting, called to order at 5:52 p.m., was adjourned at 5:57 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of the presidential statement, which will be released as S/PRST/1997/3, is as follows:

"The Security Council expresses its deep concern at the delay in the formation of a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation (GNUR) as a result of the failure of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) to meet the timetable established by the Joint Commission in the context of the Lusaka Protocol S/1994/441, annex).

"The Security Council also notes with concern the slow pace of implementation of the remaining military aspects of the peace process, in particular, the demobilization and integration of UNITA soldiers into the Angolan Armed Forces.

"The Security Council takes note of the conclusions of the meeting of the Joint Commission on 23 January 1997, according to which the Government of Angola and UNITA agreed to postpone the inauguration of the GNUR beyond 25 January 1997, UNITA agreed to ensure that all of its National Assembly deputies and the members of the future GNUR designated by UNITA be in Luanda on 12 February 12 1997, and the Government of Angola agreed to set a date for the inauguration of the GNUR immediately following the arrival of the UNITA deputies.

"The Security Council calls upon the parties to implement this agreement strictly and to form the GNUR without any linkages and without further delay. Failure to implement this agreement could jeopardize the peace process and lead the Security Council to consider appropriate measures, as indicated in relevant Security Council resolutions, against those responsible for the delays.

"The Security Council emphasizes that the ultimate responsibility for restoring peace rests with the Angolans themselves. The Council reminds the UNITA and the Government of Angola that the international community can only provide assistance if progress is achieved in the peace process and that it

Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6319 3736th Meeting (PM) 30 January 1997

will consider a United Nations presence in Angola after the expiration of the UNAVEM III mandate in this context.

"The Security Council expresses its appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the three observer countries for their efforts to assist the parties in Angola in advancing the peace process.

"The Security Council will continue to monitor closely the implementation of the Joint Commission agreement.

"The Security Council will remain seized of the matter."

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