SECURITY COUNCIL POSTPONES ENACTMENT OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON UNITA UNTIL 30 OCTOBER

Press Release
SC/6423

SECURITY COUNCIL POSTPONES ENACTMENT OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON UNITA UNTIL 30 OCTOBER

The Security Council this afternoon, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, postponed until 30 October 1997 the enactment of measures restricting the travel of senior officials of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and adult members of their families and sealing UNITA offices. Those and other measures set out in paragraph 4 of Council resolution 1127 (1997), adopted on 28 August, were to be imposed tomorrow, 30 September, unless the Council was informed by the Secretary-General that UNITA had taken concrete and irreversible steps to comply with Council demands.

By unanimously adopting resolution 1130 (1997), the Council affirmed its readiness to review the imposition of those measures and to consider the imposition of additional measures in accordance with resolution 1127 (1997).

The restrictions under paragraph 4 of resolution 1127 would also prohibit the flight of aircraft by or for UNITA, the supply of aircraft or their components to UNITA, and the insurance, engineering and servicing of UNITA aircraft. States would be required to deny permission to any aircraft to take off from, land in, or overfly their territories, if the aircraft has taken off from or intended to land at a place not included in a list to be supplied by the Angolan Government to the monitoring committee established by resolution 864 (1993) of 15 September 1993.

The Council stressed the need for UNITA to comply fully with all obligations set out in that resolution. Required actions include the demilitarization of all of its forces, the transformation of the radio station Vorgan into a non-partisan broadcasting facility and full cooperation in the normalization of State administration throughout Angola.

The meeting, which began at 12:43 p.m., was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.

Resolution

The text of resolution 1130 (1997) is as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling its resolution 696 (1991) of 30 May 1991 and all subsequent resolutions, and in particular resolution 1127 (1997),

"Noting the report of the Secretary-General of 24 September 1997 (S/1997/741), and subsequent information on steps taken by the Uniao Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA),

"Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

"1. Stresses the need for UNITA to comply fully with all the obligations set out in resolution 1127 (1997);

"2. Decides that the coming into force of the measures specified in paragraph 4 of resolution 1127 (1997) shall be postponed until 00.01 EST on 30 October 1997;

"3. Affirms its readiness to review the imposition of the measures referred to in paragraph 2 above, and to consider the imposition of additional measures in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of resolution 1127 (1997);

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

Secretary-General's Report

For its consideration of the situation in Angola, the Council had before it a report of the Secretary-General (document S/1997/741), in which he states that he is not yet in a position to advise the Council that the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) has taken the necessary steps to comply with all the obligations set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of its resolution 1127 (1997) of 28 August.

In paragraph 2 of resolution 1127, the Council demanded that UNITA implement immediately its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol, including through demilitarization of all its forces, transformation of its radio station Vorgan into a non-partisan broadcasting facility and full cooperation in the process of the normalization of State administration throughout Angola. Under the terms of paragraph 3, the Council demanded that UNITA provide immediately accurate and complete information on the strength of all armed personnel under its control in order for them to be verified, disarmed and demobilized in accordance with the Lusaka Protocol and agreements between the parties.

Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6423 3820th Meeting (PM) 29 September 1997

Resolution 1127 (1997) requested the Secretary-General to report on whether UNITA had taken concrete and irreversible steps to comply with those obligations before the coming into force of the measures specified in paragraph 4 of the resolution.

Under the terms of paragraph 4, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, decided that all States should take necessary measures to restrict the travel of senior officials of UNITA and adult members of their families and to seal UNITA offices, with effect from 30 September, unless UNITA took concrete and irreversible steps to comply with its demands. The restrictions would have States prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of UNITA leaders and adult members of their immediate families, and suspend or cancel all of their travel documents, visas or residence permits.

By other terms of the resolution, States would also prohibit the flight of aircraft by or for UNITA, the supply of aircraft or their components to UNITA, and the insurance, engineering and servicing of UNITA aircraft. States would be required to deny permission to any aircraft to take off from, land in, or overfly their territories, if the aircraft has taken off from or intended to land at a place not included in a list to be supplied by the Angolan Government to the monitoring committee established by resolution 864 (1993) of 15 September 1993.

Further by the resolution, the Council asked the Secretary-General to report by 20 October, and every subsequent 90 days, on UNITA's compliance with its demands and expressed its readiness both to review the measures in the resolution or to consider additional ones. New steps could include trade and financial restrictions, if UNITA does not comply fully with its Lusaka Protocol obligations and with all relevant resolutions.

In his report, the Secretary-General says that since the adoption of resolution 1127 (1997) on 28 August, the military situation in Angola has remained relatively calm and stable. However, the demilitarization of UNITA forces, which is a key provision of the Lusaka Protocol and an element critical to the success of the entire peace process, is not yet complete even though almost three years have passed since the signing of the agreement. The United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) and the observer States consider that the figure of 6,052 claimed by UNITA to be the total of its residual troops remains unconvincing.

At the same time, the Secretary-General recognizes that some advances have been made towards the establishment of a non-partisan FM broadcast facility to replace Radio Vorgan, which has recently made tangible efforts to reduce the level of hostile propaganda. However, the final steps in that process are long overdue and expeditious actions are required.

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With regard to the normalization of State administration, the report states that while a significant number of localities have been handed over to the Government during the past few weeks, no progress has been registered in the extension of government authority to the five strategically important areas. In addition, the overall slow pace of the process continues to raise doubts about the intentions of UNITA.

The Secretary-General urges the two Angolan parties, but in particular UNITA, to comply with all the provisions of Council resolution 1127 and to complete fully and without any further delay the implementation of the remaining tasks under the Lusaka Protocol. It is only on that basis that it will be possible to lead the peace process to a successful conclusion and to ensure genuine stability and national reconciliation in Angola. In the meantime, he will continue to monitor developments closely and to bring to the attention of the Council any further progress made in the peace process towards meeting the goals of resolution 1127.

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