S/PV.3149 Security Council

The PRESIDENT: I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Mozambique, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda. In accordance with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. i iden r, A at the Counci' table.

The PRESIDENT: The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ), document S/24892 and Addendum 1. Members of the Council also have before them document S/24941. which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations. I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to document §/24760, which contains the text of a note verbale dated 2 November 1992 from the Permanent Mission of Senegal to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. The first name inscribed on the list of speakers is that of the representative of Mozambique, on whom I now call.

Mr. AFONSO (Mozambique): First of all, I should like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council during the current month of December. My delegation has already witnessed the skilled and competent manner in which you have been conducting the Council's business. Your outstanding performance on other occasions constitutes a further assurance that you will skilfully guide the Council towards a successful outcome of the current deliberations. May I also extend my delegation's appreciation to His Excellency Ambassador Andre Erdes of Hungary for the excellent manner in which he presided over the affairs of the Council last month. I wish to acknowledge, on my own behalf and that of my delegation, the useful exchange of views we had during his tenure of office on the situation in my country. Last October I appeared before this body to welcome the initiative by the Security Council to consider and adopt its resolution 782 (1992), which, doter alia, approved the appointment by the Secretary-General of an interim Special Representative and the dispatch to Mozambique of a team of up to 25 military observers. Today my delegation is happy to see that in pursuance of paragraph z of the aforementioned resolution, the Secretary-General has prepared and submitted to the Council for its consideration an excellent, comprehensive report, contained in document S/24892 and addendum 1. His expert assessment of the needs of the people of Mozambique during this extraordinary and eritical period of our history will greatly contribute to the adoption of objective decisions by the Council today. We are grateful und indebted to the Secretary-General for his personal commitment to peace in our country. I wish to place on record my Government's readiness and determination to cooperate fully with him, and his Special Representative in Maputo, in the implementation of the decisions the Council may wish to take today regarding the full strength of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ). In my delegation's opinion, the report constitutes a truly important landmark in the efforts to achieve a lasting and durable peace in Mozambique. Equally, the action by the Security Council today wili be known as the first comprehensive step designed to give peace a chance in our country, which for the last three decades has not been able to enjoy peace ind stability. The Mozambican people are anxious to devote their energy to the efforts for national reconciliation, peace, democracy and economic development. We are confident that the full presence of ONUMOZ in the field will help meet these objectives by enabling both parties to work for the scrupulous implementation of the provisions of the General Peace Agreement, signed in Rome in October. The presence of the United Nations will be decisive not only to prevent delicate situations in the field but also to assist with regard to the growing challenges we face: the consolidation of the cease-fire in the entire country, the provision of humanitarian assistance to the victims of war and natural calamities, the resettlement of refugees and displaced persons, the reintegration of demobilized personnel, and the electoral process. In this context we wish to note that, overall, the token presence of the United Nations in Mozambique has been positive. Despite the delays vurified in the establishment of the mechanisms designed to ensure the implementation of the Rome Agreement, we are please with the recent creation of the Commissions envisaged in the Agreement: the Supervisory and Monitoring Commission, the Cease-Fire Commission, the Joint Commission for the Formation of the Mozambican Defence Force and the Reintegration Commission. The establishment of these Commissions has created the minimum conditions for the correct functioning of the Agreement. As I address this body today, I would like to emphasize that, in our view, despite the difficulties encountered in the first phase of the implementation of the cease-fire, the overall objectives of the General Peace Agreement have been preserved. For the first time, after such long suffering as a result of 10 years of struggle for our independence and 17 years of war of aggression and destabilization, our country is beginning to experience and enjoy the fruits of peace and tranquillity. The movement of people and goods has been growing, and sncreasing numbers of people are spontaneously returning to their places of origin. These positive developments will certainly gain additional impetus with a stronger and more adequate United Nations presence, which we hope will result from today's deliberations. We firmly believe that, in this peace process, we need to attach greater importance to the provision of humanitarian relief assistance. Such assistance has an important role to play in the success of this peace-keeping operation and conflict resolution. As the Secretary-General correctly observed, the provision of humanitarian relief to all parts of the country will be crucial if we are to achieve in less than one year the ambitious but noble goals set forth under the General Peace Agreement. In our opinion, peace-building in the country should not be viewed only from the military perspective. It must, in addition to the military aspects, emphasize: the provision of humanitarian relief to the victims of war and of natural calamities, the resettlement of refugees and displaced persons, and help in the reintegration of former soldiers into normal life. If we are to urrence of violence, we must ensure that during this transitional period, peace-building activities are given the necessary attention, on an equal footing with other important issues. Regarding a possible role in monitoring police activities, my Government is prepared faithfully to abide by and implement the relevant provisions of Protocol IV of the General Peace Agreement, which, inter alia, establish that: "For purposes of verifying that the actions of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique do not violate the legal order or result in violation of the political rights of citizens, a National Police Affairs Commission (COMPOL) shall be established". (S/24635. annex, p. 27) It might be appropriate to recall that according to the same Protocol, this Commission shall be composed of 21 members whose professional and personal qualities and past record afford guarantees of balance, effectiveness and independence vis-a-vis all political parties. To that effect, of these 21 members, six citizens will be nominated by the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) and six by the Government, and nine will be selected as a result of consultations to be held by the President of the Republic with the political forces in the country from among citizens meeting the aforementioned 1egquirements. The Agreement further underlines that COMPOL shall submit systematic reports on its activities to the fupervisory end Monitoring Commission; and it shall inform the competent State authorities of any irregularities detected in order that they may take the appropriate judicial and disciplinary measures. Consensus among the parties on this subject, as refiected in the Agreement, was reached following hard and protracted negotiations. We therefore trust that ONUMOZ will fulfil its mandate in line with the General Peace Agreement, and encourage the use of mechanisms therein in order to maintain and preserve the integrity of the Agreement. It is my Government's firm belief that this approach is valid, not only with regard to COMPOL, but also and above all for the overall implementation of the General Peace Agreement. We are aware of the difficult challenges facing us in our endeavours successfully and faithfully to implement the General Peace Agreement. Nevertheless, with active support from the international community, the Mozambican people will achieve their aspirations for durable and lasting peace. In this regard, I would like to reiterate my Government's readiness to continue to do its utmost to fulfil all its obligations under the Agreement. The establishment of a lasting and durable peace and the consolidation of democracy are, to our people, the two most important strategic national interests. We are investing all our resources in both human and material dimensions in order to achieve this goal. Moreover, we Mozambicans are educating ourselves for a better iife in peace, as a reconciled family that has to live together in harmony and unity. In doing so, we are also fully conscious of the fact that the success of tnis operation will also contribute to the achievement of the well-deserved peace, security and cooperation among the peoples and countries of the southern African region as a whole. In conclusion, may I avail myself of this opportunity to thank each and every member of the Security Council for their understanding of the problems we face in our country. During my consultations prior to the convening of this meeting, I was favourably impressed and deeply touched by the piedges of support. encouragement and solidarity I received from them. I therefore trust that I may continue to count on the members of the Council in our efforts to bring about peace and harmony in our beloved country, Mozambique.

The PRESIDENT: I thank the representative of Mozambique for his kind wuotds addressed te me. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to vote or the draft resolution before it. If 1 hear no objection, I shall take it that that is the case. There being no objection, it is so decided. Before putting the draft resolution to the vote, I shall call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

Mr. MUMBENGEGWI (Zimbabwe): As a neighbouring country, Zimbabwe knows the devastation that the conflic in Mozambique has brought on its people, its economy and its inmediate future. We are also acutely aware of the debilitating effect it has had on the region as a while. We therefore welcomed the signing of the Peace Agreement in Rome in October this year. My delegation would like to expreste its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his untiring efforts in promoting the peace process in Mozambique. We welcome his sensitive and comprehensive report, as well as the recommendations he makes for ths deployment of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique. We are particularly pleased to note that his report of 3 December 1992 (S/24892) pays close attention to the impact of the operation on the region and takes into account recent experienves in peace-keeping operations. The implementation of the Rome Peace Agreement is necessarily a Gelicate and complex task, and we congratulate the Secretary-General, his interim Special Representative and their staff for the meticulous work they have undertaken in forging this plan in close consultation with the parties. My delegation is pleased to note that, despite a shaky start, the cease-fire in Mozambique is holding, and, despite enormous logistical and other difficulties, we commend the cooperation between tne Government of Mozambique and RENAMO in implementing the Peace Agreement. We have every reason to be hopeful that Mozambique is now on the road to peace and prosperity, and we pledge our full support for the present peace process. We are aware, in the light of recent experiences, that a peace process such as the one under way in Mozambique requires timely and adequate support from the international community if it is to succeed. We are aiso aware of the increasing burden of multiple United Nations peace-keeping operations all ever the world. These are burdens we should gladly carry since they lead us from war to peace. No cost in pursuit of peace can ever be excessive. In the present case, the long-suffering people of Mozambique, after close to two decades of war, deserve no less than the total support of the United Nations and the entire international community in consolidating the peace and reconstructing their country. Every effort must be made to avoid the risk of the unravelling of this painstakingly constructed plan. It is therefore incumbent upon the international community to lend its support to Mozambique in its hour of need. I should like to say in conclusion that the Government of Zimbabwe is confident that the Government of Mozambique and RENAMO share the political will and determination to ensure that the Rome Peace Agreement is implemented in its entixety, thus ensuring peace and prosperity not only for Mozambique but for the region as a whole. My delegation therefore fully supports the draft resolution before us in document S/24941.

Mr. JESUS (Cape Verde): For many years Mozambique has not experienced the climate of peace and stability so much needed for its economic and social development. As a sister country of Mosambique, with which we share a common history and language, Cape Verde welcomed with great satisfaction the General Peace Agreement for Mozambique signed this year between the Government and RENAMO, which laid the foundation of a new era in Mozambique - an era of peace, we hope, and of harmony and prosperity. We etrongly encourage the parties involved to take all necessary steps to consolidate further the peace process, with a view to securing a final and lasting solution for the Mozambique conflict. The efforts of the United Nations to assist in the consolidation of peace and etability in that country are very welcome and, indeed, should be encouraged. In this regard, we commend the expeditious manner in which the Secretary-General has handled United Nations assistance to the ongoing peace process in Mozambique. Today this Council will take a decision to establish a United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ), as proposed in the report of the Secretary-General. This United Nations presence in Mozambique at this crucial juncture is of immensa value, and its effectiveness is fundamental to the success of the operation. Thus, we encourage the parties to extend their full cooperation to ONUMOZ, and we appeal to countries in a position to do so to contribute voluntarily to these important and commendable United Nations efforts. Ic is with great pleasure, therefore, that we shall vote for the draft resolution that is before us.

Mr, PERKINS (United States of America): The United States welcomes and strongly supports this draft resolution authorizing a United Nations peace-keeping operation in Mozambique. Approval of the draft resolution will be a tremendous boost to the cause of peace in this war-torn nation and will greatly facilitate international efforts to address the severe humanitarian crisis there. We would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Secretariat for the work they have put into producing this comprehensive report on the eituation in Mozambique. As the Secretary-General's report amply demonstrates, the active involvement of the United Nations is essential to the effective implementation of the Mozambique Preace Agreement of 4 October. This draft resolution gives the United Nations the tools it needs to supervise the cease-fire, monitor the demobilization process and provide security for the delivery of sorely needed humanitarian assistance. I would like to put on the record two of my Sovernment's understandings of how matters will evolve pursuant to this draft resolution. First, we foresee a phased introduction of peace-keeping forces into Mozambique. Experience and logistical constraints will govern how quickly this needs to be done, but proper phasing will result in an effective and economic operation. Secondly, we hope that the regular reporting by the Secretary-General to the Security Council referred to in operative paragraph 2 of the draft resolution will occur at least every three months. The United States is proud to have played a part in the negotiations that led to the Peace Agreement of 4 October and that were superbly mediated by the Italian Government and the Community of Sant' Egidio. We shall continue to be involved in the peace process through our active participation in the variou: United-Nations-chaired commissions, based in Maputo, that were established under the terms of the Peace Agreement. In conjunction with other donors, we shall also provide a share of the resources required to carry out the transition to peace ~ including support for elections, repatriation of refugees, and the economic reintegration of demobilized soldiers and displaced persons. In this regard, we were pleased to participate in the conference that the Italian Government convened in Rome this week to identify resources for the transition to peace in Mozambique. On this occasion, I would also like to congratulate the Mozambican Government and RENAMO for the patience, dedication and political will they demonstrated in negotiating an end to their longstanding conflict. My Government. has been encouraged by the evident determination both sides have demonstrated to making the 4 October agreement work, and we urge both sides to continue to work together to iron out any disputes that may arise during the implementation process. Finally, I would also like to note my Government's appreciation for the energetic and highly effective efforts of the Secretary-General's Special Representative and his staff over the last few months.

Mr. MERIMEE (France) (interpretation from French): The signing in Rome on 1 October of the General Peace Agreement for Mozambique has at last given that long-suffering people the hope that they can live in peace and devote their energies to development. The Government of France welcomes the fact that Mozambique has finally, after so many years of civil war and destruction, embarked on the road to peace and national reconciliation. This aavelopment is major progress for stability in southern Africa, and we wish to pay tribute to all those who have made a contribution here. As an observer of the peace process, France has spared no effort in that regard. The parties in Mozambique wanted the United Nations to assist in implemonting several essential elements of the Peace Agreement. The Government of France believes that the Organization, and in particular the Security Council. should reapond vositiveiv to that reauest. as we did in other situations. Accordingly, last October, when France was President of the Security Council, we acted with determination to facilitate the speedy adoption of resolution 782 (1992), which authorized the Council to dispatch a first contingent of military observers to the country. It is in the same spirit that my delegation will support the draft resolution, which seeks to authorize, on the basis of the recommendations of the Secretary-General, the establishment of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ). We hope that this text will coimand wide support in the Council and that the international community will show how highly it values the restoration of peace in Mozambique. By adopting the draft before us, the Council will be committing once again major resources - both human and material - to help to implement the peace process. My Government is aware of the magnitude of the task to be carried out in Mozambique and of the consequent need to make a great effort in this respect. However, this effort will be meaningful and fruitful only if the United Nations can count on full compliance by the parties with all the commitments undertaken in the Peace Agreement, in particular the cease-fire. Here, the French Government fully associates itself with the appeal made in paragraph 4 of the draft, as well as with the statement that appears in the same paragraph, whereby full respect by the parties of their commitments constitutes a necessary condition for the fulfilment by ONUMOZ of its mandate. The serious difficulties encountered recently by the United Nations in other operations that seek to implement the rules of peace seem to justify the particular emphasis placed on this element. As it did during the negotiations that led to the signing of the peace agreement, the Government of France will continue to lend its assistance to the pacties to impiement the agreement. France thus intends to take an active part in the various Commissions established by the agreement to supervise its implementation. It will also continue to support the United Nations action in Mozambique, in which French military observers already participate. In conclusion, allow me to thank the Secretary-General and his interim Special Representative for the efforts they have made and to assure them of the full support of my Government. France sincerely hopes that with their assistance and that of. the international community, the parties in Mozambique will abandon once and for all the use of force and will cooperate to ensure the complete success of the peace process in Mozambique.

Mr. VORONTSOV (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): The Russian delegation supports the draft resolution before us. The adoption of a resolution launching the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) will enable us to begin the practical implementation of the Peace Agreement Signed at Rome and ensure the speedy deployment of the United Nations contingent and its auxiliary structures in the country. We deem important the Security Council's appeal to the Mozambican parties that is contained in the draft resolution, calling upon them to cooperate fully with the interim Special Representative of the Secretary-General and with ONUMOZ and to respect scrupulously the cease-fire and all the commitments entered into by them under the Peace Agreement. It is also important that agreements should speedily be reached between the Secretary-General and the parties with regard to a clear date for holding elections, and also to a timetable for carrying out measures arising from the Peace Agreement. which will make it possible for the supervisory machinery to begin f£unctioning. The Mozambican parties, for their part, must, throughout the veriod of the Operation. scrupulously abide by that timetable. compliance with which will facilitate the successful completion of the settlement process. Our delegation wishes to stress once again the need to reduce the cost of the United Nations Operation, but without prejudice to its effectiveness or its ultimate goal. We believe that the draft resolution's provisions on this score point in the right direction. The Russian delegation is very grateful to the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for the splendid work they have done and expresses the hope that the Mozambican leaders, bearing in mind the interests of their people, will find an early solution to the outstanding questions relating to the settlement and will succeed in establishing peace and democracy in the country on the basis of good-faith cooperation with the United Nations.

The PRESIDENT: I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/24941. A. yote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Austria, Belgium, Cape Verde, China, Ecuador, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Morocco, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britaia and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

The PRESIDENT: There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has therefore been adopted unanimously as resolution 797 (1992). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.