PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON SITUATION IN ANGOLA

25 March 1999

Press Release
SC/6658

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON SITUATION IN ANGOLA

19990325 Following is a statement to press on the situation in Angola issued today by the President of the Security Council:

-- Council members expressed their continuing concern at the serious deterioration of the political, military and humanitarian situation in Angola;

-- Council members reiterated that the primary cause of the present situation in Angola is the failure of UNITA, under the leadership of Mr. Jonas Savimbi, to comply with its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol;

-- Council members reaffirmed their belief that lasting peace and national reconciliation can only be achieved through political means;

-- Council members expressed their particular concern at attacks on civilian population centres by UNITA, under the leadership of Mr. Savimbi, and at the growing number of internally displaced persons, which has increased by 650,000 since April 1998;

-- Council members emphasized that humanitarian assistance to all civilian populations in need should be unconditional;

-- Council members also urged all concerned to cooperate with United Nations personnel so that they may be able to return to the sites of the crashes of the two United Nations-chartered aircraft. They also stressed the need for an urgent investigation into the causes of the crashes of these and other commercial aircraft;

-- Council members called upon Member States, both inside and outside Africa, to fully implement the sanctions against UNITA contained in resolutions 864 (1993), 1127 (1997) and 1173 (1998);

-- Council members expressed particular concern at the growing difficulties between Angola and Zambia. They urged the Governments of Angola and Zambia to continue to use diplomatic instruments, including the Sanctions Committee, to resolve allegations of sanctions violations;

-- Council members expressed support for the Secretary-General's consultations with the Government of Angola regarding a future United Nations office in Angola.

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