S/PV.3253 Security Council

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 accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Chidumo (Mozambique) took a place at the Council table.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on the 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, document $/26034. Members of the Council also have before them document $/26055, 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 the members of the Council to the following revision to be made to the draft resolution contained in document $/26055 in its provisional form. Operative paragraph 10 should read as follows: “Stresses the importance of the early establishment of the Commission of State Acministration, and the application throughout the country of the provisions of the General Peace Agreement concerning public administration;", (The President) It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. If I 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 before the voting. Mr. JESUS (Cape Verde): I am glad, Sir, to see you presiding over the Council this month. Having observed, as an insider, your singular performance over the last year and a half, I am pleased to note that your widely recognized skills are an important asset in the work of the Council, especially at a time when we have such important issues on our agenda. We have grown accustomed to your work discipline, efficiency and results-oriented leadership. There is no doubt, therefore, that this month will prove to be a very fruitful one for the work of the Council. To your predecessor in the presidency, Ambassador Yahez Barnuevo of Spain, I should like to express my warmest congratulations on the results achieved during his term. His personal dedication and outstanding professional qualities were key factors in reaching important decisions in the Council last month. Peace and stability are a prerequisite for economic prosperity and social harmony in Mozambique. My country is happy to note that after many years of armed conflict Mozambique has decidedly entered a new era, an era of political dialogue and peace. The ongoing democratization process taking place in the country bodes well for the future of the Mozambican people, We are glad to note also that lately progress has been made in overcoming some difficulties and in advancing the democratization process. We ascribe the utmost importance to the success of this process, since on it will depend that country's much-needed peace and stability. In this context, the timely implementation of the General Peace Agreement is of fundamental importance. We share the concerns of the Secretary-General at the delay in the implementation of key aspects of that Agreement. As a sister country of Mozambique, Cape Verde believes that the adoption of a revised timetable for the implementation of the General Peace Agreement should be agreed very soon on the basis of the general parameters proposed to the parties by the Secretary-General, as reflected in his last report, contained in document S/26034., We hope that the meeting scheduled to take place on 17 July between President Joaquim Chissano. and RENAMO leader Mr. Dhlakama will be helpful in removing the obstacles, thus clearing the way for the timely and full implementation of the Peace Agreement. We commend the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative in helping bring about peace and stability to Mozambique. We would also like to express our appreciation to the Force Commander and remaining military and civilian personne] of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique for their dedication and commitment to the cause of peace in Mozambique.

I thank the representative of Cape Verde for the kind words he addressed to me. Mr. SARDENBERG (Brazil): I should like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for duly, and to pledge to you the full cooperation of my delegation. Your outstanding leadership will be key to the Council's successful deliberations this month. (Mr. Sardenberg, Brazil) I should also like to express our gratitude to Ambassador Yahez Barnuevo of Spain for his remarkable work as President during the month of June. Brazil continues to follow with concern, but also with what I believe to be well-founded hope, the evolution of the situation in Mozambique. We attach the greatest importance to the undelayed implementation of the peace process in that country, to which we Brazilians feel so closely linked. The Secretary-General, while indicating a number of issues that still call for definition or solution, states in his report (S/26034) ~ and we concur with him in that assessment - that a firm foundation for advancing the peace process has been created in Mozambique. We are gratified that such an assessment can be made in relation to a country that has for so long endured the hardship of armed conflict, a country that for so long has been prevented, due to unfortunate international circumstances, from enjoying to the full its inherent right to development. The irreversible peace process now under way in Mozambique is a clear expression of the profound desire for peace and development on the part of the Mozambican people, which enjoys the unreserved solidarity of the Government and the people of Brazil. We are heartened by the information that the cease-fire in Mozambique is holding, without any major breaches. In addition, the deployment of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique has been in large part completed, a fact that ensures a significant element of stability and confidence. A number of other important steps have been taken, or are being taken, which add significantly to the efforts towards peace. There still remain, however, a number of unresolved difficulties, which ought to be overcome without further delay so as to preserve the momentum of the peace process and guarantee its successful completion. For that to happen, it is now essential that the commitment to move full speed ahead with the process be confirmed and translated into the unambiguous definition of an appropriate, realistic time-frame for compliance with and implementation of the provisions of the General Peace Agreement. As indicated in the draft resolution before the Council, the general parameters described in the Secretary-General's report provide the basis for an agreement on this question, which we hope will take place fairly soon. It is hardly necessary to stress the importance of the successful and timely conclusion of the process of assembly, demobilization and reintegration of troops. We find it fitting that the draft resolution to be acted upon by the Council places appropriate emphasis on this aspec., which lies at the very heart of the prospects for lasting peace and democracy in Mozambique. President Joaquim Chissano has repeatedly stated and demonstrated his strong commitment to work with the United Nations in this process. We are hopeful that the meeting he is to hold next week with the leader of RENAMO will prove particularly useful. The importance of the questions pointed out by the Secretary-General in his report in relation to =he implementation of the peace process should not be underestimated. We trust that any difficulties or delays will be surmounted very soon, with a view to the holding of elections not later than October 1994. We trust above all that the longing for peace and national reconciliation deep in the heart of each and every Mozambican will now and in the years ahead set the dominant note and clear the way for a brilliant future. No time should be wasted in that endeavour.

I thank the representative of Brazil for the kind words he addressed to me. Mrs. ALBRIGHT (United States of America): As this is my first opportunity, Sir, to address the Security Council since your assumption of the presidency, let me congratulate you and tell you how much we look forward to working with you this month. I would also like to extend my commendation to Ambassador Yahez Barnuevo for the excellent job he did last month in leading the Council through many difficult issues. The United States has reviewed and fully endorses the Secretary-General's 3 July status report on the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ). My Government continues to support strongly the ONUMOZ mission and has well-founded confidence in its prospects for success. We are concerned, though, over delays in the implementation of the peace accord and agree with the Secretary-General's observation that rapid progress is needed now to move the peace process forward. Since the Secretary-General's last report in April, the difficulties which delayed the deployment of ONUMOZ peace-keeping forces have been overcome and the ONUMOZ military contingent is virtually fully deployed. At the same time, various legal, administrative and political problems which held back implementation have been resolved: the Mozambican Government and the United Nations have signed a status-of-forces Agreement; a United Nations trust fund has been established to address RENAMO's financial requirements; and the peace commissions in Maputo have reconvened following the three-month absence of RENAMO representatives. Perhaps most significantly, the Government and RENAMO have demonstrated their commitment to peace by continuing to adhere to the general cease-fire. As a result of those developments, the peace process is poised to move forward rapidly. Unfortunately, though, this potential has yet to be realized, The all-important demobilization of combatants, which should have commenced months ago, has not yet begun. Preparations for elections and for training of the new national military are also far behind schedule. As the Secretary-General has acknowledged, the slow pace of ONUMOZ deployment earlier this year contributed to delays in the implementation of the accord. However, the United Nations has now largely delivered on its commitments. The peace-kesping forces and the institutional mechanisms are in place. It is now up to the Mozambican Government and RENAMO to take advantage of ONUMOZ's presence and move the peace process forward, in the first instance by beginning the phased demobilization of combatants as soon as possible, but no later than by the end of August. (Mrs. Albright, United States) The United States has been mindful of the political and logistical difficulties of implementing the Rome accord. Accordingly, we have accepted the need to postpone elections until 1994. However, as demonstrated at the recent donors’ conference in Maputo, we and the rest of the international community are very concerned about recurring delays in the peace process and will not be able to fund the costly transition process indefinitely. The proposed timetable laid out in the Secretary-General's report, leading to national elections in September-October 1994, is realistic. However, my Government would be very concerned about, and would find it difficult to support, any postponement of the elections past October 1994. While we realize that a number of political differences must be overcome in order to meet this schedule, we also note that the ONUMOZ presence in Mozambique costs in excess of $1 million a day. Each day that passes without progress wastes precious peace-keeping funds and gives rise to lingering doubts about the seriousness of the parties in pursuing a lasting resolution to the conflict. We note that President Chissano and RENAMO leader Dhlakama are scheduled to meet in Maputo on or about 17 July. We hope that meeting will serve as a catalyst for resolving outstanding differences and that it will accelerate the pace of the peace process. We also hope that Mr. Dhlakama will demonstrate his commitment to the peace accord by taking up residence in Maputo and participating fully in the activities of the peace Commissions. Finally, I would like to note my Government's appreciation of the skilful and energetic efforts of Mr. Aldo Ajello, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Mozambique. Mr. Ajello's patient and balanced diplomacy has greatly advanced the ONUMOZ mission. We have great confidence in his abilities and are pleasea to know that he will be directing the peace effort over the upcoming critical months.

I thank the representative of the United States for the kind words she addressed to me. Mr. HATANO (Japan): I wish to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency. The work of the Council will Surely benefit from your guidance and leadership. I also wish to thank your predecessor, Ambassador Yanez Barnuevo, for the excellent manner in which he guided the Council's deliberations during the busy month of June. Substantial progress has been made in the peace process in Mozambique. The deployment of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) is nearly complete; the status-of-forces Agreement has been signed; and the leaders of the two parties have agreed to meet together on 17 July. These are indeed encouraging developments, and they should provide a firm foundation for further efforts to advance the cause of peace. Despite these positive developments, Japan cannot but be concerned at the continuing delays and difficulties that have necessitated a revision of the original timetable for the implementation of the General Peace Agreement. Any further delay could seriously jeopardize the momentum that has been generated and even endanger the entire peace process. Japan therefore calls on both parties to demonstrate with actual deeds that they are committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Peace Agreement are implemented. In particular, the cantonment and demobilization of troops and the formation of the new Mozambican army are prerequisites for further (Mr. Hatano, Japan) progress. Japan hopes that the parties concerned will cooperate in good faith with efforts towards that end without introducing any new conditions that would cause further delays. As has already been stressed by previous speakers, it is essential that the elections be held no later than October 1994; all our efforts should be focused on that goal. Meanwhile, Japan is pleased to be a part of the United Nations peace-keeping forces in Mozambique. We will do our best in various ways to contribute to the peace process in Mozambique.

I thank the representative of Japan for the kind words he addressed to me. I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document §/26055, as orally revised in its provisional form. A vote was taken by show of hands. In 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 fhe PRESIDENT: Phere were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution, as orally revised in its provisional form, has been adopted unanimously as resolution 850 (1993). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 12.15 p.m.