PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON ANGOLA

Following is the text of today's press statement on Angola by the President of the Security Council, Alfonso Valdivieso (Colombia):

Members of the Security Council strongly condemn UNITA's 10 August terrorist attack on a civilian train near the town of Maria Teresa.  As in previous attacks, such as Caxito, UNITA personnel deliberately targeted civilians.  Members call on the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the large number of Angolans who are fleeing from those attacks.

Members reiterated their call on UNITA to implement immediately and fully its commitments under the 1994 Lusaka Protocol and to engage seriously in the search for peace.

Members of the Security Council reiterated their support for all existing sanctions against the UNITA faction headed by Jonas Savimbi pending the organization's full implementation of its Lusaka Protocol obligations.

Members of the Council remain committed to a peaceful solution to the Angolan conflict on the basis of the Lusaka Protocol and relevant Security Council resolutions and urge that concrete steps be taken to advance such a solution.

Members of the Council reiterate their support for the preparations under way for holding elections in 2002 in Angola and state that such actions by UNITA should not be allowed to stymie those efforts.

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