New UN Sanctions Committee Chairman Expected in Angola

Luanda, Angola
The new chairman of the UN committee monitoring adherence to the sanctions imposed on the Angolan UNITA rebel movement begins a two-day visit in Luanda Thursday for consultations with Angolan authorities.

The Angolan news agency reported that Paul Heinbecker, who replaced Robert Fowler, is also to hold contacts with staff of the UN Office in Angola or UNOA.

Fowler is the author of a report that exposed several foreign countries and personalities, including statesmen, who violated the sanctions decreed against Jonas Savimbi's UNITA.

Heinbecker's programme includes meetings with the foreign, defence, finance, mining, and oil ministers.

A source at the foreign ministry said that Heinbecker's precedes the arrival of the new special representative of the UN secretary general and head of UNOA, Mussagy Jaichandy of Mozambique.

Jaichandy is expected to arrival in Luanda in October to assess the country's situation and establish the UN Mission in Angola.

The source said that the UN had so far not yet submitted the list of 30 members of staff who will constitute the mission, whose role would be to monitor implementation of the 1994 Lusaka peace accords.

The new mission would replace the abolished UN Observation Mission in Angola.

Last week, Jaichandy made his first contact with the Angolan foreign minister, Joao Miranda, in New York.

They discussed ways to speed up the pacification of Angola assistance to war displaced persons and refugees.

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