SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY DISMAYED BY CONTINUING FAILURE OF ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT AND UNITA TO PROVIDE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE TEAM ACCESS TO PLANE CRASH SITE
Press Release
SG/SM/6855
AFR/124
SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY DISMAYED BY CONTINUING FAILURE OF ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT AND UNITA TO PROVIDE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE TEAM ACCESS TO PLANE CRASH SITE
19981230 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General is deeply dismayed by the continuing failure of the Government of Angola and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) to provide access for a search-and-rescue team to the site of the crash of a United Nations plane on Saturday. There can be no justification for not facilitating full and immediate access to the crash site. United Nations staff have long risked -- and sacrificed -- their lives in their efforts to bring peace to Angola. The Secretary-General expects the responsible leaders to honour those efforts by guaranteeing the safety and security of all United Nations staff. The Secretary-General therefore reiterates his appeal to the Angolan Government and UNITA to extend all possible assistance to enable the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) to reach the crash site and to assist in search-and-rescue operations for any survivors.
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