S/PV.3206 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda, members of the Council have before them document 5125690, which contains the text of a letter dated 29 April 1993 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council. Members of the Council also have before them document S/25694, whICh contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council'3 prior consultations. I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to the following other documents: S/25489, letter dated 17 March 1993 from the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations addressed to

and S/25496, letter dated 11 March 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any 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 before the voting. Mr. SARDENBERG (Brazil)? The situation In Angola continues to be of great concern to us. Since the adoption of resolution El11 (1993) last March, fighting has persisted, in violation of the cease-fire demanded by the Security Council, and the population has continued to endure the consequences of increasingly difficult conditions. The continuation of the conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis that reaches tragic proportions. Millions of people have‘been displaced from their homes and millions are victims of daily hardship and violence. The estimates of the number of civilian casualties are simply appalling. Economic activities are extensively disrupted. Strong and urgent action by all relevant united Nations agencies is required to save lives and alleviate the suffering. Brazil, which is linked to Angola by particularly close ties of friendship, cannot but deplore that this situation still lingers on. We are 7 aware of the Secretary-General's intention to work towards expanding humanitarian activities in Angola. We welcome that, and we very much encourage him to proceed in that effort. The deterioration of the humanitarian situation is made even worse by utterly unacceptable impediments to the delivery of relief, in particular the attacks against humanitarian flights, as in the recent shooting down of an aircraft chartered by the World Food Programme. The draft resolution to be adopted today sends a clear message in this regard by strongly demanding that such attacks cease immediately and that the two parties, particularly UNTTA, take the measures that are necessary to ensure that such deplorable acts will not be repeated. We have said it before, and, unfortunately, we must say it again: the conflict in Angola has to stop, and it has to stop immediately. The conditions already exist in Angola for that to happen. The "Acordos de Paz" adopted in Bicesse have provided the framework for a peaceful and democratic process of national reconciliation. Strict respect for those agreements and their full implementation continue to be the key to a solution to the Angolan conflict, which will open the way for national reconstruction and economic development. We welcomed the resumption of talks between the Government of Angola.and UNITA, on April 12 in Abidjan, under the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Miss Margaret Anstee. As stated in the draft resolution before us, we are hopeful that the negotiations now under way will bring about an immediate cease-fire throughout Angola, as demanded by the Security Council, and that they will result in the speedy and full implementation of the "Acordos de Paz", including the holding of the second round of elections. Of course, it is up to the parties themselves to agree on the possible role the United Nations can play in facilitating implementation of the peace agreements. We look forward to seeing the results of the current talks, and we will be ready to work with other Council member8 to respond quickly to requests for an enhanced United Nations prerence im Angola. We are convinced that once the parties reach an agreement that call6 for the involvement of the United Nations, it will be our duty to respond without any delay. The one-month extension of the UNAVEM If mandate we are authorising today is a provisional measure, to be completed by a substantive consideration of the further role of the United Nations in Angola in the very near future. In that connection, we look forward to receiving the recommendations of the Secretary-General aa soon as .the situation warrants. We find it most appropriate that the draft rerolution to be adopted clearly emphasizes the willingness of the Council, at any time within the period of the mandate now authorised, to take action promptly to expand the United Nations presence in Angola. The task of contributing to the auccesa of efforts towards peace is at the heart of the responsibilities vested in the United Nations and the Security Council. The prospects for.peace and development in Angola and the lives and well-being of millions of people are at stake. -It is our duty to see to it that the opportunities for peace will not be wasted. , contained in document S/25694. $, vote was taken bv show of hand%. Jn favour: Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Djibouti, France, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela T he PRESIDENT: There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has therefore been adopted unanimously as resolution 823 (1993). There are no further speakers‘. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meetinar 'rose at 12.50 P.m.