PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE/ UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COORDINATOR IN ANGOLA

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE/ UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COORDINATOR IN ANGOLA

At a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative/United Nations Special Coordinator in Angola, Bernard Ntegeye, briefed correspondents on the efforts of the United Nations in that country to consolidate peace.

Describing the presence of the United Nations in Angola as "a large family", most of whose activities were centred around helping the peace process and the rehabilitation of the country's development, he said that UNDP's involvement was mainly in the areas of reintegration of demobilized soldiers, clearance of mines, governance and institution-strengthening and helping government shift from the mode of complex humanitarian assistance to one of rehabilitation and sustainable development. He noted that those activities were in direct support of the mission, which had had as its main role the negotiation of peace between the warring factions.

Mr. Ntegeye said that demining was a large programme which was being undertaken for a period of two years, and one that UNDP was taking over from the Department of Peace-keeping Operations and Department of Humanitarian Affairs, which had been doing it "in connection with strategic demining", linked to the process of demobilization. The process that UNDP was starting was linked directly to development, medium and long-term. "We aim at strengthening the national capacity of Angolans to follow-up on demining activities, which are going to be with us for quite some time. We want to make sure that the Angolans can manage and deal with this programme two or 10 years from now if the problem is still there."

He said that the second objective of the project was to make land accessible, prevent accidents around schools, hospitals and other public places and ensure that movement was unrestricted throughout the country. He observed that while it was a big challenge to the international community, an encouraging sign was that different partners were coming forward with the equipment and financial support. The programme would cost about $26 million, and he hoped that they would be able to reach that target. After the two year period, he looked forward to Angola taking over and managing demining by itself.

Another key area UNDP was involved in, along with other United Nations agencies, was the reintegration of demobilized soldiers, he said. "If we do not successfully reintegrate demobilized soldiers, particularly the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) soldiers", he said, "then the entire peace process may be jeopardied".

Mr. Ntegeye said that the main task was to ensure that when the demobilized soldiers returned to their communities they were provided with training and job opportunities to enable them to compete and become normal, productive citizens. He described the issue as a key component in "supporting the peace, and peace consolidation".

The UNDP was also involved, Mr. Ntegeye continued, in the creation of necessary institutions and capacity to manage the transition and ensure transparency in public administration. To that end, the agencies were instituting programmes in public administration and judicial reforms which would lead to transparency within the government, the better protection of human rights and the participation of civil society and other stakeholders within Angola.

In addition the Programme was involved in economic management. After 30 years of war, there had been a shift in priorities, with the military dimension given greater importance over development. There was need to reconstruct the country by addressing the issues of poverty and trying to eradicate it, and ensuring that the economic management was done in an efficient and effective manner.

Mr. Ntegeye further told correspondents that UNDP was assisting the government to prepare the Community Rehabilitation Programme, which would be financed to nearly $1 billion, aimed at addressing the issue of poverty and shifting emphasis from crisis or military aspects to rehabilitation and development. The programme would also be focused on the management of the economy and strengthening the national capacity to do so.

Mr. Ntegeye was asked about his role coordinating many United Nations agencies. On his recent visit to Angola, the Secretary-General had advocated tighter integration of efforts among the agencies; was that happening in Angola?

Very much so, the Special Coordinator replied. He said that the agencies were coming up with joint programmes to make sure they could each contribute their part to the objective. He noted that whatever they were doing was in support of the United Nations mission which had been charged with the task of negotiating peace and implementing the peace process.

Asked if the agencies were able to implement programmes in UNITA areas of control and how freely they had access to UNITA-controlled areas, Mr. Ntegeye replied that they had access "practically throughout the country". There were constraints regarding security, but those were not defined by whether it was a "government" or "UNITA" area. He explained that on certain days there was limited hindrance to movement; on others -- especially if there had been a "misunderstanding" between the two sides -- movement was affected.

UNDP Press Conference - 3 - 10 July 1997

Mr. Ntegeye was also asked for his assessment of the Government of National Unity and Reconciliation and its future. He said he had been encouraged by it following the formation of the Unity Government. He had himself talked with government members both of UNITA as well as of the Movimento Popular de Libertaçao de Angola (MPLA). "It is incredible to see the great symbiosis between the two groups; it is quite clear that they all see the same objective, namely, to have the government functioning."

He told correspondents that UNITA members within the government were very active. Some people had suggested that their entry had injected more "elements of transparency" into the government; their presence was a very welcome one, and he was personally very optimistic.

Asked if UNITA still had "a separate economy", if there were still "two different countries", he said that the process of integrating all the parts would take a very long time. It was true that UNITA still had some areas, particularly the diamond areas, under its control, but the idea was that the area must come under government control, which was now a joint UNITA/MPLA endeavour. With all the arrangements that had been worked out, he was sure that by the end of the year, there would be one managed economy, not two.

On the impact on the UNDP's economic development programme of the disputes between the two parties resulting from the change of government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Ntegeye stressed that some impact could not be ruled out. He was, however, convinced that everything was working towards a solution. He said that the tensions would not disappear overnight after 30 years of friction, and there was a standing arrangement between the parties regarding the participation of UNITA in diamond concessions. "If that is respected, I do not see any problem", he concluded.

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