S/PV.3508 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Angola, 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.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the first progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III), document S/1995/177. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/1995/192, which contains the text of a letter dated 9 March 1995 from the Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council has considered the Secretary-General's report of 5 March 1995 (S/1995/177) on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III). “The Security Council reiterates its call upon President Dos Santos and Dr. Savimbi to meet without delay as a sign of their joint commitment to the peace process and urges the Government of Angola and UNITA to finalize arrangements towards this end immediately, with a view to ensuring the necessary political momentum for the successful implementation of the Lusaka Protocol. It also encourages the observer States to the peace process, the Organization of African Unity and the neighbouring countries involved to continue their efforts aimed at the full implementation of the peace process. “The Council reaffirms the obligations of all States to implement fully the provisions of paragraph 19 of resolution 864 (1993) and reiterates its call upon the Government of Angola and UNITA to cease the acquisition of arms and war matériel as agreed in the Acordos de Paz'. “The Security Council notes that the United Nations is currently pursuing with the Government of Angola the provision of critical services and access to key facilities such as ports and airports for UNAVEM III. Early and positive responses from the “The Security Council commends the United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations for their continuing efforts to distribute humanitarian relief throughout Angola. It reiterates the importance it attaches to a well-coordinated and comprehensive mine clearance programme which will, inter alia, improve the logistics of humanitarian operations. It calls upon both parties to cooperate with the United Nations and with the non-governmental organizations to put this in place. It deplores the killing on 2 March of three Angolans and one German, all members of the Cap Anamur' non-governmental organization involved in demining activities, as well as attacks in the last month on ICRC aircraft and road transport and reminds the parties of its repeated demands that they refrain from all actions which could jeopardize the safety of humanitarian personnel in Angola. This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1995/11. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.