During the past year, significant progress has been achieved in the search for peace in Angola. After protracted negotiations, the Lusaka Protocol was signed and the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) was established to facilitate the implementation of its provisions. A cease-fire has been generally holding throughout the country and has opened access to all regions for the delivery of humanitarian relief assistance.
At the Lusaka peace talks, the most contentious issue was the question of national reconciliation, which included the allocation of posts at the national, provincial and local levels to the members of the União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA). In May 1994, the Government accepted a set of proposals on this issue put forward by the United Nations and the three observer States to the Angolan peace process -- Portugal, the Russian Federation and the United States of America. After lengthy discussions and the intervention of a number of African leaders, including President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, UNITA finally accepted the proposals in September.
The way was thus paved for the signing of the Lusaka Protocol in the Zambian capital on 20 November 1994 and for the cease-fire that came into force two days later. President José Eduardo dos Santos and several other Heads of State, foreign ministers and dignitaries attended the ceremony.
In my report to the Security Council of 1 February (S/1995/97), I recommended the establishment of a new United Nations peace-keeping operation in Angola to assist the Government and UNITA in implementing the Lusaka Protocol. In particular, I recommended that UNAVEM III be composed of political, military, police and, in future, electoral components. The Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit, which has been operational since March 1993, would continue to serve as a coordinating body for all humanitarian operations under the authority of my Special Representative. The main features of the new United Nations mandate would include: to assist in the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol by providing good offices and mediation to the parties; to supervise, verify and, if necessary, control the disengagement of forces and to monitor the cease-fire; to assist in the establishment of quartering areas and to verify and monitor the withdrawal, quartering and demobilization of UNITA forces; to verify the movement of the Angolan Armed Forces to barracks; to verify and monitor the completion of the formation of a new armed force and the free circulation of people and goods. Other aspects of the proposed mandate were to monitor the activities of the Angolan National Police and the quartering of the Rapid Reaction Police, and to coordinate and support humanitarian activities linked directly to the peace process.
Having considered my report, the Security Council adopted resolution 976 (1995) on 8 February, authorizing the establishment of UNAVEM III with an initial mandate until 8 August 1995 and with an authorized strength of 7,000 military personnel, in addition to 350 military observers and 260 police observers, as well as an appropriate number of international and local staff. The Council decided that the deployment of the infantry units would take place gradually and only if the parties complied with the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol.
The Joint Commission, chaired by my Special Representative for Angola, Mr. Alioune Blondin Beye, and comprising the representatives of both parties and the three observer States, was established at Luanda soon after the signing of the Lusaka Protocol. It is the body responsible for the implementation of the Protocol and has met in regular and extraordinary sessions on numerous occasions at Luanda and outside the Angolan capital.
Owing to some initial difficulties and delays in implementation of the Protocol, I dispatched my Special Adviser, Mr. Ismat Kittani, to register my concern with the parties and to assess conditions for the deployment of peace-keepers. The peace process subsequently regained momentum in mid-April. Although a number of incidents, unauthorized movements of troops and other cease-fire violations have occurred, the general trend has been towards a progressive decrease of such violations. Two meetings between the Chiefs of General Staff from the Government and UNITA, held in January and in February, also helped to consolidate the cease-fire and strengthen the peace process. Under the supervision of UNAVEM III, progress has been achieved in the disengagement of forces. In an especially positive development, the President of the Republic of Angola, Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos, and Mr. Jonas Savimbi, President of UNITA, met at Lusaka on 6 May in the presence of my Special Representative. This meeting gave a new and important impetus to the peace process and the parties took further concrete steps to consolidate the progress achieved. In June and July, the parties reached agreement on several important issues and approved an accelerated timetable for the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol.
Following this encouraging development, I visited Angola from 14 to 16 July to give additional impetus to the peace process. I had extensive meetings with President dos Santos, and met with Mr. Savimbi in his headquarters in the central part of Angola. Both the Government and UNITA emphasized the crucial role of the United Nations in the settlement of the Angolan conflict and stressed their commitment to the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol. I also reviewed the performance of United Nations troops in several regions of Angola. Several issues were resolved following my visit. The National Assembly created two vice-presidential posts, one of which is to be filled by Mr. Savimbi. The parties have decided that the future strength of the Angolan Armed Forces would be 90,000 soldiers and they have made progress on the modalities for the incorporation of UNITA troops, 74,000 of whom would be ground troops. The national armed forces would also comprise air and naval forces of 11,000 and 5,000 personnel, respectively. President dos Santos and Mr. Savimbi held a second meeting, on 10 August in Gabon, to address outstanding questions.
United Nations military and police observers have been deployed to nearly 60 locations throughout the country and their presence has increased United Nations verification capabilities, as well as its ability to provide good offices on the ground.
The deployment of UNAVEM infantry and support units has reached an advanced stage, with some 3,500 troops present in the country, including three infantry battalions. Full deployment of the contingents is expected in September/October. The United Nations has made strenuous efforts to ensure that mine verification and clearance of major deployment routes and quartering sites is carried out in order to begin early preparations for the quartering of UNITA troops and for the withdrawal of the Angolan Rapid Reaction Police and regular troops to barracks.
The civilian police component of UNAVEM has proved to be indispensable in enabling the United Nations to monitor and verify the neutrality of the national police. In addition, a United Nations human rights unit has contributed to the civil education campaign and to confidence-building among the Angolan population. The Government of Angola and the United Nations have agreed to establish an independent United Nations radio station in Angola, as recommended in my report of 1 February and endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 976 (1995), which would broadcast information programmes on the role of the United Nations in Angola and on the peace process. Equipment for the United Nations radio station is expected to arrive in Angola in September and UNAVEM is holding discussions with the Angolan authorities regarding the allocation of broadcasting frequencies. In the meantime, UNAVEM has been given access to the government radio and is broadcasting its programmes on it.
On 8 August, the Security Council extended the mandate of UNAVEM for an additional six months, but expressed concern at the pace of implementation of the Lusaka Protocol and strongly urged the parties to accelerate the peace process. In the meantime, the General Assembly approved some $150 million for the UNAVEM budget for 1995.
Improvements in the security situation and the consolidation of the cease-fire have enabled the United Nations and international and local non-governmental organizations to extend their humanitarian relief activities to all regions of the country. Since the signing of the Lusaka Protocol, humanitarian agencies have reoriented their programmes to support the peace process in three realms of activity: relief and resettlement; demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; and action related to land-mines. It is estimated that over 3 million Angolans are receiving food aid or other types of relief assistance. These activities are directed inside Angola by the Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit, affiliated with the Department of Humanitarian Affairs.
The long-term prospects for peace depend in large part on the successful demobilization and reintegration into civilian life of those combatants who are not retained in the Angolan armed forces. Preparations are under way for the quartering and disarmament of UNITA soldiers under United Nations supervision and control. Humanitarian agencies will provide basic services to the soldiers in the quartering sites and organize programmes to facilitate their return to civilian society. The Department of Humanitarian Affairs has appealed to the international community for $102 million to support the demobilization and reintegration process over a period of approximately two years.
The intensive mine pollution in Angola seriously hinders the movement of goods and people as well as the resumption of economic activity. The problem is being addressed through a coordinated programme of mine survey and clearance, mine-awareness training for civilians and the training of Angolan technicians and managers.
Despite some progress on the humanitarian front, the economic and social situation in Angola continues to be extremely precarious. As in other peace-keeping operations, I have attached particular importance to these aspects of the situation in Angola. As the peace process advances, the focus of United Nations assistance is gradually shifting from emergency relief activities to rehabilitation of the country's war-wracked economic and social infrastructure, and to development. With support from UNDP and the Secretariat, the Government of Angola has organized a round table for rehabilitation and community development to be held in September.
By providing humanitarian and development assistance, the international community can ease Angola's transition from war to sustainable peace. The Angolan people and their institutions, however, remain the primary agents of the necessary social, psychological and economic transformations.
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