SECRETARY-GENERAL, WELCOMING RELEASE OF 14 UN PEACEKEEPERS IN ANGOLA, CALLS ON ALL CONCERNED TO PROCEED WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF LUSAKA PROTOCOL

Press Release
SG/SM/6820
AFR/120

SECRETARY-GENERAL, WELCOMING RELEASE OF 14 UN PEACEKEEPERS IN ANGOLA, CALLS ON ALL CONCERNED TO PROCEED WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF LUSAKA PROTOCOL

Following is a statement attributable to the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General was relieved to learn that, after a long ordeal, the 14 United Nations peacekeepers who had been deployed to the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) held areas in Andulo and Bailundo were successfully withdrawn today after the UNITA leadership in Bailundo eventually gave clearance on Saturday for the landing of United Nations aircraft to pick them up. They are currently in safety at the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola's (MONUA) regional headquarters in Huambo (Angola). The Secretary-General is encouraged that reason has prevailed in the very difficult situation involving MONUA personnel in these two team-sites, and that the principles guiding peacekeeping operations have been upheld. The Secretary-General once again commends the courage and perseverance of these peacekeepers and pays tribute to the professionalism and untiring efforts of Special Representative Issa Diallo, Force Commander Seth Kofi Obeng, and all the staff of MONUA as well as the United Nations personnel at Headquarters in New York, who have been patiently working for the earliest redeployment of these observers.

Now that these United Nations peacekeepers are in safety, the Secretary- General reiterates the appeal of the international community to the parties to exercise the utmost restraint so as not to endanger the lives of MONUA and other international personnel operating in Angola, as well as innocent civilians. The Secretary-General also hopes very much that the release of United Nations personnel would encourage all concerned to proceed with full implementation of the Lusaka Protocol.

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