S/PV.3305 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 conformity 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. Afonso (Mozambique) took a place at the Council table.

The Security Council will now begin the 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; that report is contained in documents S/26666 and S/26666/Add.1. Members of the Council also have before them document S/26694, 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 to the following technical changes to be made in the text of the draft resolution (S/26694) in its provisional form. First, the order of the first and second preambular paragraphs should be reversed. Secondly, in paragraph 12, the word "operative" before the words "paragraph 13" should be deleted. Thirdly, in paragraph 15, the words "Trust Fund set up" should read "Trust Fund to be set up". The first speaker is the representative of Mozambique, on whom I now call. Mr. AFONSO (Mozambique): I should like to begin my remarks by extending my delegation’s warmest congratulations to you, Sir, upon your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. My delegation is fully cognizant of your outstanding diplomatic skills and wishes to pay a special tribute to you for the high distinction with which you have served your country and our continent during these two years of intense work in the Council. We are therefore confident that the Council will benefit from your experience in international relations and will be able to celebrate a successful outcome of its deliberations. Let me also place on record my appreciation of the excellent manner in which your predecessor, Ambassador Sardenberg of Brazil, presided over the deliberations of the Security Council last month. I am particularly grateful for the cooperation he extended to me and my delegation, as well as for the leadership he displayed during the consultations leading to the adoption of Security Council resolution 879 (1993) last Friday. I should also like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Council for the excellent cooperation they have given me and my delegation since the establishment of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ). I look forward to continue working with members of the Council throughout this year and next year. I wish once again to commend the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for his continued commitment to peace in my country. His historic visit to Mozambique recently and the results achieved thereupon bear testimony to that commitment. I should like to tell him again that we enjoyed his visit. As the Secretary-General witnessed himself, for the Government, the people and indeed all Mozambican political forces, his stay in Mozambique further raised our spirits and enabled us to find a new dynamism and optimism in our peace process. At this juncture, I wish to commend the Secretary-General for his very illustrative report in document S/26666 of 1 November 1993, which provides an important assessment of the progress made in the implementation of the General Peace Agreement for Mozambique, especially the recent developments since the last meeting of the Security Council on this issue. Twelve months have elapsed since the adoption by the Council of resolution 782 (1992) of 13 October 1992, which, inter alia, approved the appointment by the Secretary-General of an interim Special Representative and the dispatch of a team of up to 25 military observers to Mozambique. The adoption of that resolution marked the dawning of a new era in the efforts towards the establishment of a lasting peace in Mozambique. The establishment by the Council on 16 December 1992 of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) laid down the legal foundations for a continued follow-up of the peace process in Mozambique by the Security Council. Since then, this body has devoted a number of meetings to the evolution of the peace process in my country and has adopted a number of important resolutions in that regard. Therefore, we believe there could be no better time than today to make an overall assessment of the progress made so far in the search for peace and of the activities of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique. Clearly, some progress has been made since the inception of ONUMOZ. Overall, the objectives of the General Peace Agreement have been preserved, particularly the maintenance of the cease-fire. Notwithstanding that, as will be recalled, each stage of the implementation of the provisions of the Rome Agreement has been faced with unforeseen difficulties. There were times when we were concerned over the delays in the deployment of the United Nations contingent to speed up the process. Nevertheless, soon (Mr. Afonso, Mozambique) after this first major issue was resolved, other obstacles - artificial and ever-mounting ones - came into play during the implementation process. The deployment of the United Nations peace-keeping forces is having a positive impact on the country as a whole. The United Nations presence has been instrumental in encouraging a gradual but steady return of refugees and displaced persons, the normalization of life throughout the country, the re-establishment of a productive base in the rural areas and the revitalization of the economy. In this connection, I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to place on record once again my Government’s high regard for the positive role played by the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Assistance Coordination in assisting my Government to address vital issues pertaining to the humanitarian-relief programme in Mozambique. As will be recalled, time and again my Government and the international community have voiced their deep disappointment over the continuing delays in the process of separation, concentration and demobilization of armed forces. Moreover, the training of the new army did not proceed in accordance with the timetable set out in the General Peace Agreement. Of course, RENAMO was not prepared to send its forces on time. On the other hand, the National Commission for Administration and the National Police Affairs Commission could not be established owing to the failure by RENAMO to appoint its representatives. (Mr. Afonso, Mozambique) Furthermore, the Government has had to provide answers to systematic demands by RENAMO, whose fulfilment was made a vital condition of RENAMO’s abiding by the provisions of the General Peace Agreement. These demands related, among other things, to the installations and the means of securing RENAMO’s accommodation, transportation and communications facilities. As may be noted, we have truly been talking of a package of preconditions that for so long put the Rome Agreement in serious jeopardy. Despite serious shortages of resources resulting from a long-lasting conflict, my Government did all it could to give peace a chance. We provided RENAMO and, wherever possible, the other political parties with all we could afford. The Security Council will recall that, following the concerted efforts that were begun after the signing of the Rome Agreement, Mr. Dhlakama, the RENAMO leader, finally agreed to go to Maputo, where he had several meetings with President Chissano between 23 August and 3 September 1993. This series of meetings resulted in agreements in two of the areas most critical to implementation of the General Peace Agreement. On the issue of territorial administration, it was agreed that a post of adviser to each of Mozambique’s 10 provincial governors should be created. For this purpose, RENAMO was requested to nominate three of its members for each province to assist the provincial governors with regard to all important issues pertaining to territorial administration. My Government regards this agreement as a step forward in the efforts to preserve and maintain the unity of the country. In so far as police affairs are concerned, it was also agreed, inter alia, to request the United Nations to send a police contingent to monitor all police activities, as well as to provide technical support to the National Police Affairs Commission, which was established under the General Peace Agreement. In this connection, my Government has already made a formal request to the Secretary-General to send a police contingent, in accordance with the agreement that I have just mentioned. We are pleased to note that the draft resolution before the Council authorizes the Secretary-General to proceed with the selection and deployment of 128 United Nations police observers. The Mozambican Government made all these concessions in an attempt to remove the existing hurdles to the peace process. We did so because we believed that there should be no reason whatsoever to jeopardize the lives of millions of our citizens any longer, following nearly 30 years of devastating wars. The (Mr. Afonso, Mozambique) Government had done its best to accommodate the interests of other parties, especially RENAMO, while making clear its unwillingness to undertake commitments that would ultimately lead to reopening of the negotiation of the Rome Agreement. On the other hand, while this agreement was being achieved, the negotiations within the multi-party consultative conference, which is responsible for the preparation of electoral law, were virtually deadlocked, and no agreement could be reached on the composition of the Electoral Commission. Owing to this state of affairs, a sense of urgency was stimulated by the Security Council in its resolution 863 (1993) of 13 September 1993. For that reason, my Government welcomed the adoption of that resolution, truly believing in the need to ensure strict observance, in letter and in spirit, of the Rome Agreement. Moreover, the resolution made clear the unacceptability of attempts to attach conditions or to gain more time or further concessions, attempts which are contrary to the peace process in Mozambique and which have so far impeded full implementation of the General Peace Agreement. It was against this background that the Secretary-General paid an official visit to Mozambique from 17 to 20 October 1993. This visit to our country gave the Secretary-General a unique opportunity to establish high-level contacts with the Government, RENAMO and other political parties in Mozambique and to take a fresh look at the activities of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique. The Secretary-General’s visit was timely and useful. As a result of his extensive talks with the Government, RENAMO and other political parties, a major breakthrough in the Mozambican peace process was achieved. Thanks to the political will shown by the parties, it was finally possible to achieve far-reaching, positive agreements on all major issues pertaining to full implementation of the General Peace Agreement. As is clearly outlined in the Secretary-General’s report, agreement has been reached on the composition of the Electoral Commission. As I emphasized earlier, the lack of progress on the issue of the composition of this important Commission brought all the negotiations within the multi-party consultative conference to a standstill. The understanding that has been reached should make possible the early and successful completion of the electoral law, which will be the cornerstone for the next year’s general elections. The Electoral Commission will be composed of 10 members of the Government, seven members of RENAMO and three people from the other political parties and will have an independent Chairman. Moreover, the Government, RENAMO and other (Mr. Afonso, Mozambique) political parties are considering the creation of an electoral tribunal to make decisions about, inter alia, matters arising from the electoral process in cases of disagreement in the Electoral Commission. The electoral tribunal will be composed of five judges - three international judges of recognized technical expertise, neutrality and effectiveness, and two Mozambican judges of the same standing. This composition underscores the high importance we attach to the credibility of the institutions being set up to certify the legality and the validity of the whole electoral process and its outcome. For these reasons, we shall request the Secretary-General to consult with the Security Council on how best they might assist in the selection and nomination of the international judges. At the current stage, technical experts of all political parties are finalizing the details of the electoral law. The whole process, including the adoption of the electoral law by the Assembly of the Republic, is due to be concluded by the end of November 1993. However, at this time we are extremely disturbed at the fact that, in the course of the negotiations - following the Secretary-General’s departure from Maputo - RENAMO has once again resorted to its traditional pattern of raising new issues extraneous to the process, thus creating a stumbling-block to approval of the electoral law. Clearly, this is contrary to the spirit of the commitments entered into during the Secretary- General’s visit to Mozambique. The international community must send a strong message to RENAMO, making it clear these tactics will no longer be accepted. With respect to the issue of demobilization of armed forces, a new timetable outlining the various phases of demobilization has already been approved by both parties. The demobilization of paramilitary forces will begin with the movement of the first troops to the assembly areas. In accordance with the new timetable, demobilization will begin in January 1994 and will be completed by May of the same year. Considerable progress has also been made with regard to the approval of assembly areas. Out of a total of 49 such areas envisaged in the General Peace Agreement, 36 have already been approved. The new Mozambican Defence Forces (FADM) are scheduled to be fully operational by September 1994, one month prior to the holding of the general elections. As the Council is aware, the formation of the new army is vital to the future of the country as well as to the smooth implementation of the Rome Agreement. It is therefore one of the most important priorities on our agenda. However, it is neither easy nor cheap, especially under Mozambique’s present economic and financial conditions. Without firm international support it will (Mr. Afonso, Mozambique) be very difficult, if not impossible, for our country, alone, to cope with all the expenses resulting from the demobilization of the armed forces, training, rehabilitation of military installations, uniforms, engineering and communications equipment, and other items needed for the new army. The Mozambican Government is fully aware of all the financial constraints we face worldwide, but we believe that, with good will, it could be possible to help our people in financing the end of war and the restoration of peace and tranquillity so vital for all Mozambicans. A peaceful, stable and prosperous Mozambique is vital, not only to the Mozambicans themselves, but also to the entire southern African region. The agreement on the Commissions whose functioning had not been possible to date - namely, the National Commission for Administration, the Commission for Information (COMINFO) and the National Police Affairs Commission (COMPOL) - constitutes another important step forward. It was further decided that pending the deployment of the United Nations police contingent, COMPOL will set up its own subcommittees to undertake temporarily the tasks reserved for the United Nations police contingent. What is necessary now, as correctly indicated in the draft resolution (S/26694), is to make these Commissions functional. While welcoming the proposed deployment by the Secretary-General of 128 police officers, we wish to express our full sympathy and understanding with regard to the financial implications that will certainly ensue from the deployment of this contingent. The current United Nations financial situation, which the Secretary-General brought to our attention during his visit in Maputo, calls for good management and utilization of existing resources, both material and human. The lack of progress on the composition and chairmanship of these Commissions has had a very negative impact on the overall implementation of the General Peace Agreement. We believe that we can now proceed without any further delays. We must move forward and turn the aspirations of our people into reality. Having made these comments, I wish to say that I strongly believe that the Secretary-General’s visit was a remarkable step towards peace and a step towards the full implementation of the General Peace Agreement for Mozambique. We therefore hope that with political good will and determination by all parties, including RENAMO, there will be sufficient and ample time to prepare for, and to hold, general elections no later than October 1994, as expressed by this body. This is the wish of the entire Mozambican people; it is the wish of our Government; and it is also the wish of the international community. (Mr. Afonso, Mozambique) We are of the view that, at this stage, our primary responsibility is to ensure a continued mandate for ONUMOZ to undertake its tasks. Secondly, there is a pressing need for ongoing vigilance. For this purpose, we call upon the Security Council to hold responsible all those who might once again wish to subvert the momentum created by the understandings achieved during the Secretary-General’s visit to Mozambique. It is high time for the Security Council to ensure that procrastination will no longer be tolerated; rather that it will be firmly denounced, without any ambiguity, by the international community. My Government calls for continued international support in our search for peace, because peace is vital to the people of Mozambique and ultimately to the entire southern African region. In this regard, we welcome the draft resolution before us today. In our view, the draft resolution addresses in detail and with clarity all that must be done in order to move forward in the implementation of the provisions of the General Peace Agreement. We regard the implementation of this draft resolution as vital to the achievement of lasting peace and tranquillity in our country. We therefore strongly support its adoption by the 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 put the draft resolution (S/26694) to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided. I shall first call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting. Mr. SARDENBERG (Brazil): Mr. President, I wish to congratulate you warmly on your accession to the office of President of the Security Council for the month of November. Your well-known leadership qualities and your recognized legal and political experience guarantee that the work of the Council will be guided in a highly proficient manner. The delegation of Brazil is particularly pleased that you, as representative of Cape Verde, will be presiding over our deliberations, as our two countries share a common culture and a common language, upon which we have built strong ties of friendship. You know that you can count on the cooperation of the Brazilian delegation. May I also express my gratitude for the kind words you and other representatives have addressed to me. (Mr. Afonso, Mozambique) For some time now, the Security Council has been expressing its satisfaction at the continuation of the peace process in Mozambique, a member of the Portuguese-speaking community of nations, along with your country and mine. The Council has also on various occasions expressed its lingering concern over the delays and difficulties found in the implementation of measures called for in the General Peace Agreement. The report now submitted by the Secretary-General, for which we are grateful, reflects a new momentum that has been generated for the peace process in Mozambique and provides information on a number of important agreements that have been achieved on outstanding matters between the Government of Mozambique and RENAMO. We are particularly encouraged by the fact that agreement was reached on the revised timetable for the implementation of the General Peace Agreement. We commend the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, Mr. Aldo Ajello, for their efforts, which have facilitated those agreements. In particular, the Secretary-General’s visit to Maputo was certainly instrumental in promoting such agreements and in providing a new impetus to the peace process. We also note with satisfaction the continued commitment of the Government of Mozambique, under the leadership of President Joaquim Chissano, to the cause of peace and national reconciliation. The United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) has been playing a fundamental role in strengthening trust between the Government and RENAMO and in promoting the conditions for carrying forward the peace process. The renewal of the ONUMOZ mandate for an additional six-month period is thus an important contribution by the United Nations to the success of the endeavours for peace in Mozambique. Brazil is committed to support the continuation of a strong United Nations presence in Mozambique. In that connection, we note the observation made by the Secretary-General in his report that the security situation in some areas is still precarious and that there is an increased demand for air transport for ONUMOZ personnel. The draft resolution before us provides for a review every three months of the situation concerning the implementation of the mandate of ONUMOZ. Our main concern in those reviews will be the need for ensuring its continued and effective discharge of all its functions in support of the peace process. The need to achieve cost savings is of course also an element to be considered, in this as in all other operations carried out by the United Nations. (Mr. Sardenberg, Brazil) The Secretary-General also indicates his intention to submit shortly a separate report on the establishment of an ONUMOZ police contingent. We look forward to receiving his recommendations in this regard and we stand ready to work with other Council members to act promptly on the matter. We agree with the need to proceed, meanwhile, with the deployment of the small contingent of 128 police observers provided for in the original mandate of ONUMOZ. It would be hard to over-emphasize the importance of strict and timely compliance with the requirements concerning the military aspects of the General Peace Agreement, especially the assembly and demobilization of troops, along with the process of creating the new Mozambican Defence Forces. The draft resolution rightly places strong emphasis on these points. It is very important, at present, that it be clearly understood that the Council is and will continue to be attentive to the crucial question of troop assembly and demobilization, and that it will continue to insist on these points. The revised timetable is tight, and it must be complied with without any equivocation or dragging of feet, so as to allow the successful holding of democratic elections in October 1994. As indicated in the draft resolution, no further issues that could put in jeopardy the timely implementation of the General Peace Agreement should be raised at this point. There can be no more doubt about what is to be done. All that is necessary now is that it be done, and that it be done without any further delay. We are confident that this will indeed be the case and that the efforts for peace now being deployed by the Mozambican people will bear fruit. For our part, we reiterate our commitment to continue to work in the Security Council and elsewhere to support peace, development and prosperity for Mozambique.

I thank the representative of Brazil for his kind words addressed to me. Mr. OLHAYE (Djibouti): We wish to congratulate you most warmly, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Council for this month. We have no doubt that your qualities and professionalism will guide us meticulously through the crowded programme of work ahead of us. We would also like to express our deep gratitude to your predecessor, Ambassador Sardenberg, for the exemplary manner in which he conducted the Council’s work last month. (Mr. Sardenberg, Brazil) The draft resolution on Mozambique sums up very well the positive feelings and guarded optimism of the international community regarding the progress made to date on resolving the conflict there. We also vigorously applaud the Secretary-General for his excellent report on the current situation, following his personal intervention in the negotiation process between President Chissano and Mr. Dhlakama, which, together with the efforts of his Special Representative, Mr. Ajello, appears to have been the spark needed to move the talks to a self-sustaining and conclusive level. For various reasons, key provisions of the General Peace Agreement signed in Rome by the two sides exactly one year ago have not been implemented. The potential for these delays to rekindle suspicions or harden attitudes has been a constant strain on all concerned. We must, therefore, congratulate each side on not seizing upon these delays as a pretext for reneging on the basic spirit of the agreement. My delegation is pleased that progress towards elections next year has been given a substantial boost with the completion of the National Elections Commission. Now that a definite date has been set for the holding of elections - namely, October 1994 - the measures necessary to meet this date, such as the need to revise and approve the electoral law for final adoption by the National Assembly, will have a sense of urgency. In this vein, we are also pleased that, as a result of the Secretary-General’s visit, three essential commissions, for Administration, Police Affairs and Information, whose activities are key to the implementation of the Peace Agreement, but which have been inoperative to date, now have chairmen and are expected to begin work immediately. The combined effect of these steps, as well as others related to the formation of a unified defence force and police, the conversion of RENAMO to a political party, the approval of a timetable for the peace process by both parties, and the general effectiveness of the Cease-fire Commission in remaining on top of the surprisingly limited number of cease-fire violations, has been to provide a renewed impetus to the whole process of returning Mozambique to the status of a fully functioning nation. We continue to be concerned, however, with the whole humanitarian assistance programme, given the sheer magnitude of the calamity. A total of some 1.5 million refugees resulted from the conflict in Mozambique, and the job of reintegrating them into society, along with that of integrating the troops of the combatants, is formidable. To this we must add the 4 million to 5 million (Mr. Olhaye, Djibouti) internally displaced persons who must be returned to their home areas as well. Related to this problem is that of de-mining the country, where there are an estimated 2 million mines. Training, time and funds will be required. But until sufficient inroads are made, mines will remain an impediment to movement of people, reintegration, development and food production. The Secretary- General’s special attention to this matter is therefore to be commended. Over all, we note that progress to date has permitted a refocus of the assistance programme from emergency relief to problems more related to a return to normality. The commitment of the international community to the needs of Mozambique is quite encouraging, as manifested by the more than 90 per cent of pledges assembled against the overall target of $560 million for the year to May 1994. Given the recent breakthroughs, the concerns of the donors have been addressed, particularly with regard to key delays, and that should now open the way to completion of the funding. Hopefully, if everything proceeds as planned, Mozambique will assume the status of a United Nations success story in Africa, like that of Cambodia in Asia, and will, moreover, be an example of what can be accomplished by leaders of good will supported by the international community. My delegation therefore unreservedly supports this draft resolution.

I thank the representative of Djibouti for the kind words he addressed to me. Mr. YAÑEZ BARNUEVO (Spain) (interpretation from Spanish): In the draft resolution before us the Security Council expresses its satisfaction that the dynamic of progress which began this summer between President Chissano and Mr. Dhlakama has been consolidated, in what we hope is a definitive manner following the recent visit of the Secretary-General to Mozambique. What was until recently the main obstacle to decisive progress in the peace process, seriously threatening to delay the elections scheduled for October 1994, has now been overcome. (Mr. Olhaye, Djibouti) We welcome the fact that the President of Mozambique and the President of RENAMO have accepted the revised time-table for the full implementation of the General Peace Agreement; they are to initiate a series of measures that the parties must fulfil during the next few months, and that the Council will follow with close attention. My delegation wishes to congratulate the Secretary-General for the excellent work carried out during his visit to Maputo, where he so ably conveyed the serious concern of the international community at the delays in the process and also the need to successfully carry out their obligations under the Council’s resolutions. We must also welcome the exemplary fashion in which the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) is carrying out its work under the able guidance of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Mr. Ajello. The report of the Secretary-General defines the agreements reached in Maputo on the process of assembling and demobilizing troops, creating the new Mozambican Defence Forces, establishing the National Commission for Administration, the National Police Affairs Commission and the National Commission for Information, and preparing for the elections in October 1994. The resolution the Council is about to adopt emphasizes the importance of the parties’ fulfilling these agreements, in accordance with a revised and clearly defined time-table. In this connection, we cannot fail to note with concern the information brought to us today by the representative of Mozambique and concerning certain attitudes displayed by RENAMO since the Secretary-General’s visit to Maputo. We believe that the authorization given the Secretary-General by the Security Council to select and promptly deploy 128 United Nations police observers, who had already been approved under resolution 797 (1992) of 16 December 1992, presupposes that all parties should feel some degree of confidence, as must the Mozambican population, and that this will help smooth the way towards national reconciliation and help the parties take the welcome step of doing everything necessary to put their signed agreements into practice. I cannot fail to mention my country’s constant concern about the humanitarian situation in Mozambique and the suffering of a population that has been laid waste by a conflict that has gone on far too long. The steps forward that have been taken in this area, as described in the Secretary-General’s report, are significant. We appeal to both parties to continue this positive (Mr. Yáñez Barnuevo, Spain) trend of opening up channels of communication between the areas they each control, as this is enabling the United Nations and the humanitarian assistance organizations to assess the Mozambican people’s most acute needs more accurately, so that they can provide the necessary assistance. The fact that refugees and displaced persons are being repatriated and resettled are promising signs that demonstrate the population’s desire to rebuild their lives in an atmosphere of peace, reconciliation and development. Enabling them to do so does require continuing and generous assistance from the international community. The Security Council is preparing to extend the mandate of ONUMOZ for six months, to be reviewed after 90 days on the basis of a report by the Secretary- General on the progress made by the parties in implementing the General Peace Agreement and in meeting the revised time-table for holding elections in October 1994. Spain believes that this extension emphasizes the confidence that the international community has placed in the willingness of both parties, the Government and RENAMO, to fulfil their undertakings, and highlights the international community’s resolve from now on not to accept at all readily any delays in the process, nor to see itself disappointed in supporting peace and democracy in Mozambique. It is our strongest desire that the peace process in Mozambique, guided by the United Nations, should come to a successful conclusion and so become an example for all Africa.

I now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/26694. 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

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 882 (1993). I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting. Mr. MARUYAMA (Japan): Japan welcomes the agreements reached between the President of Mozambique, Mr. Joaquim Chissano, and the President of RENAMO, Mr. Alfonso Dhlakama, on a number of issues which had brought the peace process in Mozambique to a standstill. These agreements were the result of the (Mr. Yáñez Barnuevo, Spain) initiative taken by the Secretary-General during his visit to Mozambique and of the ongoing and dedicated efforts of his Special Representative, Mr. Aldo Ajello. Japan expresses its sincere appreciation for their contributions to the process. As a country that participates in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ), Japan has followed the situation in Mozambique very closely. Although we have often felt frustrated by the lack of progress, recent developments have renewed our hope that peace will be restored in Mozambique. We are particularly pleased that the parties have agreed to the revised time-table for the implementation of the General Peace Agreement, a step which the Security Council had strongly urged with its resolution 863 (1993). Now it is important that the Government and RENAMO work in good faith to act on their agreements: they should start the process of assembling their troops this month, and demobilizing them in January 1994. Further, they should approve the electoral law no later than the end of this month so as to ensure that elections will in fact be held as soon as possible, and by October 1994 at the very latest. The Secretary-General stated in his report that: "the United Nations can only facilitate the peace process and that it cannot promote and establish peace without the cooperation of the parties." (S/26666, para. 46) This means that both parties must exercise the political will and determination to translate their agreements into concrete actions. At the same time, Japan believes it is important that the international community support the efforts of the people of Mozambique to restore peace and democracy in their country. By adopting the resolution, the Security Council has demonstrated its commitment to providing that support. My own delegation strongly believes that the presence of ONUMOZ will be necessary until the elections are held and peace is firmly established in Mozambique. Indeed, I should like to close my remarks by assuring the people of Mozambique that they have the continued support and good will of the international community as they strive to achieve a durable peace in their country. We all look forward to the day when they can devote their efforts to building a stable, prosperous, and democratic society. Mr. LI Zhaoxing (China) (interpretation from Chinese): With the joint efforts of the Secretary-General and the two sides in Mozambique, the peace process in Mozambique has made gratifying progress which has resulted in (Mr. Maruyama, Japan) agreements on the establishment of the National Elections Commission, the Commission for Information and the National Police Affairs Commission, and on the time-table for the assembly and demobilization of troops reached not long ago by the two sides, thus making an important contribution to peace and security in Mozambique and southern Africa and opening up new vistas for economic revitalization in Mozambique. The Chinese delegation is very pleased with all these developments. The Chinese delegation maintains that whether the peace process in Mozambique will be completed successfully and whether Mozambique can genuinely enjoy lasting peace depends, in the final analysis, on the people of Mozambique themselves, and that outside efforts can only help promote the process. At present, the peace process in Mozambique has entered a crucial stage, and the two sides should therefore, in accordance with their commitments and in full cooperation with the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ), adopt practical measures to strictly follow the new time-table so as to ensure the holding of the general election as scheduled in October 1994. We hope that the two sides in Mozambique will seize the opportunity and comprehensively implement the general peace agreement and the relevant Security Council resolutions so as to create conditions for the early realization of national reconciliation. Consequently, the Chinese delegation supports the Secretary-General’s recommendation on extending the mandate of ONUMOZ and has voted in favour of the resolution adopted just now. Mr. MARKER (Pakistan): Let me at the outset congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the current month. We are confident that under your experienced and able guidance the Council will function smoothly and effectively. I should also like to place on record my delegation’s appreciation for the skill and sagacity with which His Excellency Ambassador Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg, Permanent Representative of Brazil, conducted the affairs of the Council during the month of October. From all accounts, the latest developments in Mozambique are encouraging. If all the Mozambican parties involved continue to show the commitment and the spirit of accommodation recently visible, Mozambique could well turn out to be the next United Nations success story. (Mr. Li Zhaoxing, China) My delegation would wish to pay a special and warm tribute to the Secretary-General, whose recent dynamic presence in Mozambique has motivated the agreements and the understandings that have made possible our meeting here today. We are particularly gratified at the many agreements reached between President Chissano and Mr. Dhlakama during the Secretary-General’s recent visit to Maputo. Now that the issue of composition of the National Elections Commission has been settled, we hope that this Commission will function effectively towards the goal of general elections in Mozambique in October 1994. We also hope that the consensus principle under which the Commission is supposed to function will not impede its work. Another welcome development has been the agreement between the Government of Mozambique and RENAMO to begin the movement of their troops to assembly areas during this month and to start the demobilization in January 1994. It is vital that the time-table agreed between the Government of Mozambique and RENAMO is adhered to strictly. The demobilization process should finish by the end of May 1994. The voter registration should be finalized by June 1994. Training of the new Mozambican Defence Forces should be completed by September 1994, and the electoral campaign should wind up in time for national elections to be held by the end of October. The United Nations can only assist the people of Mozambique and, at best, supplement their efforts. The basic responsibility for restoring normalcy and a democratic order there rests essentially with the people and the leaders of that country. It has to be realized that the international community may not be in a position to expend human and material resources indefinitely if the people of Mozambique themselves do not make a substantive contribution towards the process of peace and rehabilitation.

I wish to thank the representative of Pakistan for the kind words addressed to me. Mr. LADSOUS (France) (interpretation from French): My delegation welcomes the recent positive developments that have taken place, thanks to the visit of the Secretary-General to Maputo, in the implementation of the peace process in Mozambique. France therefore was pleased to vote in favour of this resolution, which extends the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) for a six-month period, it being understood that progress in the peace process will be subject to periodic review. (Mr. Marker, Pakistan) France, which had expressed its concern at the delays in the full implementation of the Rome Accord, welcomes the agreements concluded by the parties, especially those regarding the process of assembly and demobilization of troops and the proper functioning of the Joint Commissions, especially the National Elections Commission. My delegation calls upon the parties to continue to show wisdom and restraint, to comply strictly with the revised time-table and to cooperate with ONUMOZ for the proper functioning of the electoral process. My delegation emphasizes in this respect that it is imperative that these elections be held as planned in October 1994, at the latest, and that no further delay in these conditions will be tolerated. My delegation once again pays tribute to the action of ONUMOZ under the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ajello. We would recall that the United Nations cannot, however, replace the parties, and that the success of the peace process depends above all on them.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Cape Verde. My Government has been following the peace process in Mozambique with keen interest. After years of suffering and hardship, the people of Mozambique, to whom we are linked by special ties of close friendship and history, have a unique opportunity to change the course of events in order to reach harmony and political stability in the country, rebuild their shattered lives and enjoy, in peace and freedom, the many resources of their bountiful land. The peace process under way offers them this unique opportunity. The political parties and their leaders are expected to play a historic role, and they bear a special responsibility in this regard. The General Peace Agreement is the centre of this process. Its timely and scrupulous implementation will finally bring peace and stability to Mozambique. We are pleased to note the progress made, especially recently, in connection with aspects related to the General Peace Agreement. In this regard, my Government attaches the utmost importance to the recently agreed new time- table for the implementation of the General Peace Agreement. The success of the ongoing peace process and the holding of the long- awaited elections in October of next year depend on the ability of both parties to abide by and comply with this timetable. (Mr. Ladsous, France) My Government therefore urges them to do everything in their power to continue to honour promptly their agreements and arrangements, thus meeting the historic challenge of bringing peace, stability and prosperity to their country. To do otherwise would unnecessarily and dangerously prolong the agony of the Mozambican people, who for too long have endured the excruciating pain that goes with the loss of loved ones killed in the war, for too long suffered the hardship caused by a destroyed economy and shattered lives, and for too long legitimately longed for peace. We are particularly encouraged by the positive developments in the peace process in Mozambique, and especially by the dialogue between President Chissano and the leader of RENAMO, Mr. Dhlakama, as noted in the report of the Secretary- General (S/26666). We encourage the parties to maintain this momentum for the sake of lasting peace and continued prosperity in their country. We appeal to all of those who are in a position to do so to provide the financial assistance needed to facilitate the implementation of the peace process and to improve the humanitarian situation in Mozambique. We congratulate the Secretary-General for his personal efforts in contributing to the achievement of important arrangements during his recent visit to Mozambique and pay tribute to his Special Representative, Mr. Ajello, for the good work and dynamism he has brought to his functions. Our recognition also goes to all the women and men serving in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique for their assistance in the Mozambique peace process. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has this concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 1.30 p.m. (The President)