SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS ANGOLA MISSION UNTIL 16 APRIL, WELCOMING DECISION TO INSTALL NEW GOVERNMENT

31 March 1997

Press Release
SC/6349

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS ANGOLA MISSION UNTIL 16 APRIL, WELCOMING DECISION TO INSTALL NEW GOVERNMENT

19970331 Resolution 1102 (1997), Adopted Unanimously, Requests Report on Status of New Government by 14 April

Welcoming the decision of the Government of Angola to install the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation on 11 April, the Security Council this evening extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) until 16 April and requested the Secretary- General to report by 14 April on the status of the installation of the new Government.

With its unanimous adoption of resolution 1102 (1997), the Council commended the Secretary-General's efforts to move the peace process forward during his recent visit to Angola and called upon the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Angolan Government to form the new Government by 11 April. That date for formation of the new Government was recently announced by the Joint Commission that monitors the 1994 Lusaka Protocol, a comprehensive peace agrement signed between the Government of Angola and UNITA. The Joint Commission includes the Angolan Government, UNITA, the United Nations and the observer countries of the United States, Russian Federation and Portugal.

By other terms of the draft resolution, the Council welcomed the arrival in Luanda, after considerable delay in the implementation of the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol, of the UNITA deputies and future officials of the new Government, in accordance with subsequent agreements between the two parties.

The Council called upon both parties to remove all remaining obstacles to the peace process and to implement without further delay its remaining military and political aspects, in particular, incorporating UNITA soldiers into the Angolan Armed Forces, demobilization, and normalization of State administration throughout the national territory.

Also by the draft, the Council decided that it remained ready to consider the imposition of measures, including, among others, trade and travel restrictions on UNITA personnel, as stated in paragraph 26 of resolution 864 (1993) of 15 September 1993, if the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation was not installed by 11 April.

The Council's action followed a briefing earlier today by the Secretary- General on the status of the Angolan peace process and the installation of the new Government, particularly his 22 to 25 March visit to Angola and his meetings with Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos and the leader of UNITA, Jonas Savimbi.

The UNAVEM III was established in 1995 to assist the parties in Angola in restoring peace and achieving national reconciliation on the basis of the 1991 "Acordos de Paz" and the Lusaka Protocol. The mandate includes: providing good offices and mediation to the parties; monitoring and verifying the extension of State administration throughout the country and of national reconciliation; and supervising the control and verification of the disengagement of forces.

The Council's meeting began at 6:15 p.m. and adjourned at 6:18 p.m.

Report of Secretary-General

In his report of 25 March on UNAVEM III (document S/1997/248), the Secretary-General recommends that the Security Council extend the Mission's mandate for two weeks only, until 15 April, given the uncertainty concerning the exact date for the inauguration of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation

He states that, while there has been little progress towards implementation of the remaining aspects of the 1994 Lusaka Protocol, the meetings he held during his Angola visit of 22 to 25 March with President José Eduardo dos Santos and the leader of UNITA, Jonas Savimbi, had given rise to positive expectations for the peace process. If the promise made by Mr. Savimbi to send to Luanda the rest of the UNITA National Assembly deputies and other designated officials, then the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation could be established in the very near future. "Final and courageous steps need to be taken by the two parties and their leaders in order to complete the peace process expeditiously", he stresses.

During the period covered by the report, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Alioune Blondin Beye, in collaboration with the representatives of the three observer States (Portugal, Russian Federation and the United States), held intensive consultations on the implementation of Council resolution 1098 (1997). The consultations focused on the formation of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation under the agreed timetable. That timetable concerned such things as the incorporation of UNITA members into the Angola Armed Forces and the arrival of UNITA members in Luanda for participation in the National Assembly.

The timetable was established by the Joint Commission (Angolan Government, UNITA, United Nations and the three observer States), which was

Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6349 3759th Meeting (Night) 31 March 1997

created to monitor the comprehensive peace agreement between the two parties - - the Lusaka Protocol. According to resolution 1098 (1997), the Council will consider the imposition of measures, including trade and travel restrictions on UNITA personnel, if there is a continued delay in the timetable.

The Secretary-General points out that on 21 March the Joint Commission adopted a draft law on the special status of Mr. Savimbi as the leader of the largest opposition party. That draft is to be presented to the National Assembly for action. The Joint Commission also adopted an updated timetable for the implementation of the outstanding provisions of the Lusaka Protocol.

The UNAVEM III was established in 1995 to assist the parties in Angola in restoring peace and achieving national reconciliation on the basis of the 1991 "Accordos de Paz" and the Lusaka Protocol. The mandate includes providing good offices and mediation to the parties; monitoring and verifying the extension of State administration throughout the country and of national reconciliation; and supervising the control and verification of the disengagement of forces.

As of 20 March, 5,297 United Nations troops, 396 military observers and 258 police observers were deployed throughout Angola, according to the report. In the Secretary-General's 2 December 1996 withdrawal plan, the strength of the Mission will have been reduced by approximately 30 per cent in April. The Special Representative and the Force Commander have recommended that the further withdrawal of infantry units be slightly delayed, although the overall process should be completed by the end of August.

The Secretary-General notes that Mr. Savimbi had promised during their recent meetings that all remaining UNITA National Assembly deputies would be sent to Luanda by 25 March. The rest of the designated officials would, according to the UNITA leader, proceed to Luanda not later than 26 March.

Draft Resolution

The text of resolution 1102 (1997) reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Reaffirming its resolution 696 (1991) of 30 May 1991 and all subsequent relevant resolutions,

"Recalling the statements of its President of 30 January 1997 (S/PRST/1997/3) and of 21 March 1997 (S/PRST/1997/17),

"Reaffirming its commitment to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of Angola,

Security Council - 4 - Press Release SC/6349 3759th Meeting (Night) 31 March 1997

"Reiterating the importance it attaches to full implementation by the Government of Angola and the Uniao Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA) of the "Acordos de Paz" (S/22609, annex), the Lusaka Protocol (S/1994/1441, annex) and the relevant Security Council resolutions,

"Stressing that it is imperative for the parties to take urgent and decisive steps to fulfil their commitments in order to ensure the continued involvement of the international community in the peace process in Angola,

"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 25 March 1997 (S/1997/248),

"1. Commends the efforts of the Secretary-General during his recent visit to Angola to move the peace process forward;

"2. Welcomes the arrival in Luanda, although after considerable delay in the implementation of the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol, of the UNITA deputies and future officials of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation (GURN), in accordance with subsequent agreements between the two parties;

"3. Also welcomes the decision of the Government of Angola, as announced by the Joint Commission, to install the GURN on 11 April 1997;

"4. Calls upon both parties to form the GURN on that date

"5. Also calls upon both parties to remove all remaining obstacles to the peace process and to implement without further delay the remaining military and political aspects of the peace process, in particular the incorporation of UNITA soldiers into the Angolan Armed Forces, demobilization, and normalization of State administration throughout the national territory;

"6. Decides to extend the mandate of UNAVEM III until 16 April 1997, and requests the Secretary-General to report by 14 April 1997 on the status of the installation of the GURN;

"7. Further decides that, in accordance with resolution 1098 (1997) of 27 February 1997, it remains ready to consider the imposition of measures, including, inter alia, those specifically mentioned in paragraph 26 of resolution 864 (1993) of 15 September 1993, if the GURN is not formed by 11 April 1997;

"8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."

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