With pace of peace process slow, meeting goals of Lusaka Protocol will determine UNAVEM's continuation.

The UN Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) has been extended by the Security Council until 11 July 1996. The Council, concerned with repeated delays in the implementation of successive timetables agreed to by the parties and with the "overall slow pace" of the peace process, declared that it would place "special emphasis" on headway made in considering the Mission's future mandate. Particular concern was expressed with regard to the slow pace in quartering troops of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and in completing talks regarding the integration of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).

Under resolution 1055 (1996), adopted unanimously on 8 May, the Council also urged the Angolan Government and UNITA to abide strictly by the obligations they had undertaken in 1994 on signing the Lusaka Protocol, as well as with commitments made by Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi on 1 March in Libreville, Gabon.

At that meeting, the two leaders had pledged to adopt a series of measures to accelerate the Protocol's implementation, including forming the unified FAA by June and a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation between June and July. In the new Government, Mr. dos Santos would continue as President. Mr. Savimbi was invited to serve as one of two Vice-Presidents.

Under the resolution, the Council also welcomed the proclamation by the Angolan National Assembly of amnesty arrangements, as agreed on in Libreville, and progress made in quartering of the Government's rapid reaction police.

Progress `slow'

"Progress in implementing the Lusaka Protocol has been disappointingly slow and many of the tasks which the parties themselves agreed to carry out in April remained unfulfilled", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said in his 30 April report (S/1996/328) on UNAVEM III.

While the Government-UNITA dialogue had been maintained, the military situation had been stable and progress had been achieved with the partial barracking of the FM and the rapid reaction police, "the overall achievements fall well short of what the Security Council had been led to expect", the Secretary-General reported. The quartering of UNITA troops was "virtually stalled", although the flow had increased during the last few days of April. There were also delays in reaching agreement on incorporating UNITA troops into the FAA. As a result of the "unsatisfactory state of affairs", the Secretary-General recommended only a two-month extension of the Mission's mandate.

`Move process forward'

The Council on 24 April urged President dos Santos and Mr. Savimbi to "move the peace process forward", emphasizing that the ultimate responsibility for restoring peace in the country rested with the Angolans themselves.

In a statement by Council President Juan Somavia of Chile (S/PRST/ 1996/19), it reminded both sides that an extension of UNAVEM III would be based, to a large part, on progress towards meeting the goals set by the Lusaka Protocol. The Council felt that progress in implementing the Protocol had been limited and had not fulfilled the hopes generated by the 1 March meeting in Libreville.

Noting delays in the quartering process, the Council encouraged UNITA "to move expeditiously" in that regard. Also concerned by the quality of weapons surrendered so far by UNITA, the Council urged it to turn over all arms, ammunition and military equipment, and to release all remaining prisoners.

Citing two statements made by Mr. Savimbi in March which had cast doubt on some of his party's pledges, the Council expressed further concern, adding that all Angolan leaders should carefully consider the effect their public statements had on the climate of confidence needed to "nurture the peace process".

The Council expressed satisfaction at progress the Government had made in implementing its commitments under the Lusaka Protocal and the current timetable. It also emphasized the importance of completing the Calendar of Actions for April, including the continuation of the pull-back of Government forces from areas near UNITA quartering sites, the return of the rapid reaction police to barracks, the adoption of a plan to disarm the civilian population and the quartering of UNITA troops. The Government should grant facilities to UNAVEM III for an independent UN radio, it said. Both parties should complete integrating UNITA troops into the FAA, and destroy their stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines.

The Council was concerned about "credible reports" of continuing purchases and delivery of weapons to Angola. It condemned a 3 April incident that had resulted in the death of two UNAVEM personnel, the wounding of a third, and the death of a humanitarian assistance official.

Quartering of troops

The progress made by the Angolan Government and UNITA in meeting agreed goals had been "limited", particularly with regard to the quartering of UNITA troops, the Secretary-General reported on 4 April (S/1996/248 and Add. 1). "Much remains to be done", he added.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali called on the two parties to implement in good faith, within the agreed time-frame, the Lusaka Protocol's provisions, as well as the agreements reached at Libreville concerning the completion of the quartering process, the formation of the new FAA and the establishment of a Government of national unity and reconciliation.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali also warned that, while the international community stood ready to provide emergency assistance and facilitate economic reconstruction and development, "the patience of major donors is not without limits and their assistance will depend to a large extent on the continued commitment of the parties to peace and national reconciliation".

Among the positive developments were: the two parties had agreed on 9 March that UNITA would provide the new joint army with 18 generals and fill several important positions, including that of Vice-Minister of Defence and Deputy Chief of the General Staff; the military situation remained stable; and the Government/UNITA conflict prevention mechanism operating under UN auspices had been "instrumental in preventing serious cease-fire violations". In addition, demining operations and training were proceeding, UNAVEM III was continuing to monitor the human rights situation and investigate violations, and humanitarian activities were proceeding normally. With the remainder of UNAVEM III's military component deployed in March, its military and police personnel had surpassed 7,000, making it the largest current peace-keeping mission of the Organization.

UNITA troop quartering

In a 6 March report (S/1996/171), the Secretary-General called UNITA's quartering of more than 16,000 troops "a step forward" and commended the Government for the implementation of several of its commitments. But he also warned that "time is running short if the parties are to complete the numerous outstanding tasks foreseen in the Lusaka Protocol".

Instances of forced recruitment and the substandard quality of weapons, equipment and ammunition brought to quartering areas were "bound to raise doubts about the good faith of UNITA in its approach to this process", he stated. Those doubts could only be dispelled by completing the process expeditiously.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali called a speedy conclusion of the talks on outstanding military matters "critical for the advancement of the peace process". Other measures that would instill confidence included: the release of all prisoners held by UNITA; unrestricted circulation of people throughout Angola; the launching of a country-wide campaign to disarm civilians; the transformation of UNITA into a political party.