ReliefWeb

Reiterating their earlier stance on the causes of the current crisis in Angola, Security Council members today put the blame on UNITA's leaders for their failure to comply with the 1994 peace accord.
Council President Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom said in a press statement that Council members demanded that UNITA, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, comply "immediately and without conditions" with its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol.

"Members of the Council reaffirmed their belief that lasting peace and national reconciliation in Angola can only be achieved through political dialogue; with all those genuinely interested in peace and stability," Ambassador Greenstock said.

Council members also expressed their deep concern at the "dire humanitarian situation" in Angola, Ambassador Greenstock said, and called on all concerned to ensure compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law and to ensure humanitarian access to the entire Angolan population.

Earlier in the day, a senior United Nations official briefed the Council on efforts to establish the UN Office in Angola (UNOA). In his press statement, Ambassador Greenstock said Council members stressed the importance of ensuring that UNOA was functioning as soon as possible and urged Secretary-General Kofi Annan to finalize arrangements with the Government.