Council maintains 'cautious optimism' on peace process.

The Security Council on 7 September expressed "cautious optimism" that Mozambicans would be able to fulfil the goals of the peace process, achieving democracy, lasting peace, and responsible, representative government in their country. In a presidential statement, the Council said it was satisfied with the pace of the peace process in Mozambique, including the demobilization of all forces, which was expected to be completed shortly.

The Council welcomed the commitment by Mozambique's main political parties and the National Elections Commission to ensure the holding of elections on 27 and 28 October, as scheduled. It underlined the importance of voter registration reaching as many Mozambicans as possible. Registration had begun on 1 June and had been extended until 2 September. As a result, the electoral campaign was due to begin on 22 September.

The Council concurred with the UN Secretary-General that the UN Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) should be deployed over a wider area to assist the Government in maintaining security, particularly during the electoral period.

ONUMOZ, set up on 16 December 1992 to assist in the implementation of the 4 October 1992 General Peace Agreement between the Government and the Mozambique National Resistance Movement (RENAMO), had been monitoring the electoral registration process with 120 observers. The UN intended to deploy 1,200 electoral observers for the actual polling and counting of votes.

A Security Council mission sent to Mozambique from 7 to 12 August discussed with the parties how best to ensure full and timely implementation of the General Peace Agreement. The mission reported (S/1994/1009) difficulties regarding the formation of the new Mozambican Defence Force (FADM), and emphasized the importance of a complete transfer of all materiel of the armed forces to FADM. One area of disappointment, it said, was that of mine clearance, which was late in starting and had made little progress.

On 7 July, the Secretary-General had urged (S/1994/803) that the assembly and demobilization of government troops be accelerated dramatically to meet deadlines set in th Peace Agreement.

If deadlines were not met and a large number of the soldiers selected for FADM were left in the assembly areas, there was a danger of having three armies in Mozambique during the election period. That would threaten stability, the holding of free and fair elections, and the peaceful formation of the new government.

The Secretary-General on 26 August had reported (S/1994/1002) to the Council "encouraging" and "significant progress" in the peace process.

Demobilization was almost complete, more than three quarters of the estimated eligible voter population had been registered, and the major political conditions for holding the elections were in place.

Nevertheless, there was growing concern about the security situation, which had deteriorated in recent months, he reported. Rioting among soldiers in assembly areas and other locations had become frequent and violent.

In general, the cease-fire had been remarkably well respected and all unassembled troops had been registered, the Secretary-General went on.

Despite the demobilization of a much larger number of troops than initially planned, the number of weapons collected by ONUMOZ was below expectations.

Delays in the formation of FADM were reported. Although the General Peace Agreement provided for it to be a volunteer army of 30,000 soldiers -- 15,000 each from Government and RENAMO ranks--no more than 10,000 soldiers were expected to join the new army before the elections.

About 75 per cent of the estimated 3.7 million persons internally displaced at the time of the signature of the General Peace Agreement had now been resettled, and some 342,000 refugees in neighbouring countries were expected to return to Mozambique by the end of 1994, the report stated.

There had been "inordinate delays" in implementing the UN mine-clearance programme, the Secretary-General said, but progress was finally being made.

The reduction of the ONUMOZ military component would begin on 15 November and was to be completed by the end of December, the Secretary-General stated. Until the final closure of the Mission by the end of january 1995, a limited number of staff would remain in Mozambique.