Angola.

During the Security Council's open briefing on Angola on 18 January, speakers blamed the protracted conflict in the country on the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Sanctions against UNITA were beginning to have a real impact, according to Canada's representative and Chairman of the Security Council Committee. They were impeding UNITA's ability to transport fuel and arms throughout the country and were reducing the number of parties ready to offer support to UNITA. However, Angola's representative noted that despite the existence of sanctions, many countries and institutions continued to allow UNITA to acquire new, sophisticated weapons.

Noting that UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi had been declared a war criminal by the Southern African Development Community and the Organization of African Unity, Namibia supported the Angolan Government's position in rejecting dialogue with Mr. Savimbi. The United Kingdom said Angola and UNITA needed to engage in dialogue if a solution was to be found, but added that Mr. Savimbi had abrogated any right to be part of such talks by frustrating the search for peace. The three observer States to the Angolan peace process--Portugal, the Russian Federation and the United States- stressed that the international community expected immediate and full compliance with all provisions of the Lusaka Protocol.

Introducing the Secretary-General's report on Angola, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast said only a political solution could restore peace in the country. The Lusaka Protocol, signed between the Angolan Government and UNITA in November 1994, remained a valid basis for the peace process.

He said that UNITA bore primary responsibility for the continued humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in Angola.

Following a recent military offensive throughout the country, the Angolan Government gradually reestablished its authority in areas formerly controlled by UNITA, including its strongholds in the central highlands. As a result, some measure of stability has been restored in several regions. However, the humanitarian situation remained "extremely alarming", Mr. Prendergast said, and the Government needed to improve the human rights and humanitarian situation there. To that end, the new United Nations Office in Angola (UNOA) will assist the Government and civil organizations in the areas of capacity-building, humanitarian assistance and the promotion of human rights.