S/PV.3335 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Angola, in which she 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, Ms. Coelho Da Cruz (Angola) took a place at the Council table.

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 Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II), contained in document S/1994/100. Following consultations among members of the Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council has considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II) (S/1994/100) submitted pursuant to resolution 890 (1993) of 15 December 1993. "The Council commends the Secretary-General, his Special Representative and the Chief Military Observer on their efforts to bring to a successful conclusion the talks between the Government of Angola and UNITA, currently taking place in Lusaka, with a view to reaching an effective and sustainable settlement of the conflict, within the framework of the "Acordos de Paz" and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. The Council also commends the efforts of the three observer States to the Angolan peace process and those of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and of neighbouring States in support of the Lusaka talks, and encourages them to continue these efforts. "The Council notes the progress made to date in the Lusaka talks, in particular the adoption of the general and specific principles, as well as the modalities, relating to all the military and police issues on the agenda. The Council calls upon the parties to renew their commitment to a peaceful settlement. It demands that they redouble their efforts in the Lusaka talks, with the aim of urgently attaining an effective and sustainable cease-fire and completing work on the remaining points on the agenda and concluding a peaceful settlement without procrastination. (The President) "The Council is deeply concerned at the intensification of hostilities and, in particular, at the recent outbreak of serious military activity at several locations in Angola, particularly at Kuito-Bie. It deplores the great loss of life and destruction of property. "The Council stresses that the only way to achieve an effective, verifiable and sustainable cease-fire is for the parties to conclude and sign a comprehensive peace agreement. It calls upon them to honour the commitments they have already voluntarily agreed to in Lusaka, to exercise maximum restraint, to stop immediately all offensive military actions, and to commit themselves to the urgent conclusion of the Lusaka talks. "The Council welcomes the improvement in the delivery of humanitarian relief assistance to the affected population in Angola, while acknowledging that the overall situation remains serious. It urges the parties to continue to cooperate with the United Nations agencies and the non-governmental organizations in ensuring the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief supplies and the necessary security for its efficient distribution. It calls upon the international community to contribute generously to humanitarian aid efforts in Angola. "The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to keep it informed on a timely basis of developments in the Lusaka peace talks. It reaffirms its readiness to consider (The President) promptly any recommendations from the Secretary-General once an agreement has been concluded between the parties. It also reaffirms its readiness to consider further action in accordance with its previous resolutions. "The Council will remain seized of the matter". This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1994/7. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 6.10 p.m. (The President)