Security Council

4536^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDES ON 90-DAY SUSPENSION OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

ON SENIOR UNITA OFFICIALS

In a unanimous action under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council voted this morning to suspend travel restrictions on senior officials of the União Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola (UNITA) for a period of 90 days following today’s decision.

Welcoming the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Government of Angola and UNITA as it adopted resolution 1412 (2002), the Council also decided that it would consider extending the suspension prior to the end of that 90-day period.

The Council imposed the travel restrictions under resolution 1127 (1997).  By paragraph 4 (a) of that text, the Council decided that all States would prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of all senior UNITA officials and adult members of their immediate families, except those officials necessary for the full functioning of Angola's Government of National Unity and National Reconciliation and the National Assembly.

Under paragraph 4 (b) of that resolution, the Council also decided all States would suspend or cancel all travel documents, visas or residence permits issued to senior UNITA officials and adult members of their immediate families.

Co-sponsoring today's resolution were the Troika of Observers:  Portugal, Russian Federation and the United States.

The meeting began at 10:54 a.m. and adjourned at 10:56 a.m.

Resolution

Following is the full text of Council resolution 1412 (2002):

"The Security Council,

"Reaffirming its resolutions 696 (1991) of 30 May 1991, 864 (1993) of

15 September 1993 and all subsequent resolutions, in particular resolution 1127 (1997) of 28 August 1997,

"Recalling the statement of its President of 28 March 2002 (S/PRST/2002/7), which, in particular, expressed its readiness to consider appropriate and specific exemptions from and amendments to the measures imposed by paragraph 4 (a) of resolution 1127 (1997),

"Welcoming the historic step taken by the Government of Angola and União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA), on 4 April 2002, in signing the Memorandum of Understanding Addendum to the Lusaka Protocol for the Cessation of Hostilities and the Resolution of the Outstanding Military Issues under the Lusaka Protocol (S/1994/1441, annex),

"Welcoming in particular the efforts of the Government of Angola to restore peaceful and secure conditions in the country, to re-establish effective administration and the efforts of all Angolans to promote national reconciliation,

"Reaffirming its commitment to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Angola,

"Emphasizing the importance of the full implementation of the “Acordos de Paz”, the Lusaka Protocol, and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, in close cooperation with the United Nations and the Troika of Observers,

"Reaffirming the need for UNITA to cooperate fully with the demobilization and quartering of UNITA soldiers and their reintegration into the armed forces, police and civil society of Angola, as specified in the Memorandum of Understanding,

"Recognizing the need for the facilitation of travel by UNITA members for the peace process and national reconciliation to advance, including to enable UNITA’s reorganization, with the goal of rapid reintegration into national life and fulfilment of all peace accords,

"Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

"1.   Decides that measures imposed by paragraphs 4 (a) and (b) of resolution 1127 (1997) are suspended for a period of ninety days from the date of adoption of this resolution;

"2.   Decides that prior to the end of this period the Council will decide whether to extend the suspension of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 above, taking into account all available information, including from the Government of Angola, on the continuing progress of the process of national reconciliation in Angola;

"3.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."

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