PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL AND ADVISER TO SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS IN AFRICA
Press Briefing
PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL AND ADVISER TO SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS IN AFRICA
20000713An entire generation of Angolans had not known peace since the country had gained its independence in 1976, Ibrahim Gambari, Under-Secretary-General and the Adviser to the Secretary-General for Special Assignments in Africa, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.
The main purpose of his recent visit had been to deliver a special message from the Secretary-General expressing willingness to work with Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, other members of the Government and civil society to find ways to accelerate the peace process in that country. "We really want to help the people and the Government of Angola find a way to bring this war to an end", he said. "It has lasted for too long."
The second purpose of Mr. Gambari's visit had been to try to build on the growing trust that was now developing between the Government of Angola and the United Nations. "As you know", he said, "that relationship has not always been a particularly happy one." Therefore, his scheduled meetings while in Angola included a broad range of actors within the Government and Foreign Ministries, as well as members of civil society, religious organizations and national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). He also met with various members of the diplomatic community, in particular the ambassadors of the United States, Russian Federation and Portugal, as well as ambassadors of Brazil, Norway and Israel, whom he said had a special connection with Angola.
He went on to say that he had met with the leaders of Angola's various political factions, including the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). It was important to note that one of the main purposes of all these meetings was to ensure that the declared intention of President dos Santos to hold free, fair and credible elections in 2001 became a reality.
"Another issue for us was the truly horrendous humanitarian situation in Angola", he continued. Some 3.7 million of the country's 12.6 million people needed immediate humanitarian assistance. Sadly, 1.1 million of those were newly internally displaced persons. Mr. Gambari had been able to visit Huambo, Kahala and other settlements for displaced persons during his time in Angola.
Shaping and strengthening the role of the United Nations Office in Angola (UNOA) was also a major focus of the visit. Mr. Gambari said that through the years, United Nations operations in the country had been through many permutations. The UNOA's role was currently limited to humanitarian concerns and capacity-building. Now was the time, however, to explore what the Office could accomplish beyond those concerns. This should be accomplished through close consultation with the Government of Angola.
Gambari Briefing - 2 - 13 July 2000
"During our time there, we also touched on the negative impact the war has had on the economy", he said. The consequences of prolonged conflict had exacerbated Angola's serious macroeconomic instability. Fortunately, he said, that grave situation had prompted the Government to sign an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a Staff Monitored Macro-Economic Programme on 5 April. This would be followed later by a full structural adjustment programme. His meetings on Angola's economic situation also included discussions on transparency in governmental financial transactions, corruption and the issues involved in moving away from a mono-crop agricultural system.
There had been some positive developments since his return from Angola, Mr. Gambari said. First, UNITA had announced the release of five Russians who had been held captive since May 1999. Second, the Church had organized a very important civil society rally in which more than 20,000 people participated.
Many of those participants had waived banners and placards which denounced the war and called for peace and dialogue now, he said. "Certainly, civil society is becoming more important in terms of widening the area of political debate." Unfortunately, debate on ending the war in Angola tended to be limited to the opinions of the Government or political factions such as UNITA or the MPLA. Now, it appeared that civil society -- ordinary men, women and children who suffered most from the continued conflict -- was beginning to see the importance of the role it played in shaping the policies of the country.
Third, he continued, President dos Santos had made a very important statement on 19 June, reiterating that the Lusaka Protocol was still a valid instrument to bring about peace in Angola. The President had added that any followers of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi who laid down their arms in favour of peace would be welcomed as a part of the political process or might even be pardoned. Mr. Savimbi himself could be pardoned under similar conditions.
"So the conclusion one reaches is that there are definite prospects for peace", Mr. Gambari said. But even as the Angolan Government had recaptured more and more territories and brought them under State control, it was important to realize the war was not over. Now it must be seen what, if anything, the United Nations could do within the framework of the Lusaka Protocol to help the people of Angola find peace sooner rather than later.
As to his very serious concern for the humanitarian situation in that country, Mr. Gambari hoped that the upcoming open meeting in the Security Council on the Secretary-General's report on Angola would address this and other issues. It was also hoped that the introduction of that report could be accompanied by the Secretary-General's announcement of a new head of UNOA. That Office had been without a chief of operations since the Angolan Government had signed the Status of Mission Agreement last January.
A correspondent wondered about the possible impact of President dos Santos' suggestion regarding Mr. Savimbi. Hadn't the United Nations recent ordeals with Foday Sankoh in Sierra Leone shown that pardoning a person who had been flouting international law and peace agreements for years could be problematic? "Well,
Gambari Briefing - 3 - 13 July 2000
this will ultimately be up to the people of Angola to decide", Mr. Gambari answered, "I merely referred to a statement by the President." The Government had not yet analysed the implications, so there would certainly be further discussion on this issue.
Certainly, he continued, UNOA and the international community were clear that Savimbi was the chief culprit in the situation in Angola. That was why the Security Council had put in place a sanctions regime, shortly followed by resolutions monitoring its implementation.
"So the culprit is known", he said, "but the point is still that this war must end." All the parties must agree on a way to stop the fighting. But it was true that the United Nations did not want to "create another Foday Sankoh", someone who would sign an agreement, renege and then go on to commit even further atrocities. "The lessons learned from Sierra Leone are very much alive", he added. "I really don't think that the Government wants to sit down with Savimbi for any reason."
Another correspondent wondered if, during Mr. Gambari's time in Angola, Mr. Savimbi had shown any signs of cooperating with attempts to end the fighting. While he had not met directly with Mr. Savimbi, Mr. Gambari said that he had spoken with persons that were sympathetic to his cause. Their assessment was that it was now universally recognized that Savimbi's initial goal, to be President, either by ballot or by force, would never be realized. That and the fact that the Government had been putting more pressure on UNITA forces under his command was definitely having an impact. This was not to say, however, that Savimbi had abandoned the idea of warfare. "Don't forget", Mr. Gambari said, "this man is a master at guerrilla warfare." But it was also true that the sanctions had been largely successful, and Savimbi's ability to get supplies had been crippled. So the feeling was that he should return to the framework of Lusaka and try to end the war in Angola peacefully.
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