Vol. 474 No. 5
5 Mr. Hilliard asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, being taken by the EU, and particularly by the Government as a member of the EU Troika, to put pressure on both the Angolan Government and UNITA to implement fully the Lusaka Protocol. [3226/97]
The Government and our EU partners continue to support strongly the peace process being conducted between the Government and UNITA parties in Angola under the terms of the Lusaka Protocol of 20 November, 1994. We fully support the mediation efforts of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative, the negotiating parties and the Troika of Observer Countries which consists of Portugal, the Russian Federation and the United States.
During the Irish Presidency, the Tánaiste cochaired the important ministerial conference between the EU and the countries of the Southern African Development Community in Windhoek, Namibia, on 14-15 October, at which Angola was represented. The resulting Windhoek Communiqué reaffirmed the conference's commitment and support for the peace process in Angola and also took an important initiative in regard to anti-personnel landmines — an extraordinarily serious problem for Angola and its people.
Last Monday, Ireland joined EU partners in issuing a declaration in support of the Angolan peace process and the ongoing efforts of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative and the Troika of Observers. While welcoming recent progress towards the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol, in particular the incorporation of senior UNITA officers into the Angolan armed forces, the declaration expressed regret over a number of recent negotiating difficulties which have delayed the process. Specifically, the Union regretted that over the past few weeks it was not possible to secure either the swearing-in of UNITA's deputies or the establishment of a Government of Unity and National Reconciliation as had been agreed for 17 and 25 January, respectively.
In its declaration, the Union has also stressed particularly to the UNITA leadership the importance of deputies, future ministers and vice-ministers, travelling to the capital, Luanda, by 12 February as recently determined by the Joint Commission which is overseeing the Lusaka peace process. It has also stressed that this should be done, in accordance with Resolution 1087 adopted by the UN Security Council on 11 December, without being linked to other issues. The Government of Angola has agreed to set a date for the inauguration of a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation immediately following the arrival of the UNITA deputies in Luanda. The Union has called on both the Government and UNITA to resolve the remaining obstacles so that a lasting peace can be achieved and programmes of economic and social rehabilitation fully implemented.
As made clear in a statement by the UN Security Council on 30 January, responsibility for restoring peace rests with the Angolans themselves. The international community can provide assistance only if progress is achieved in the peace process. The Security Council has also pointed out that failure to implement the agreed formation of a new government could jeopardise the peace process and lead the Security Council to consider appropriate measures against those responsible for the delays as provided for in its relevant resolutions.
Bilaterally, Irish aid has contributed over £1 million to ongoing projects in Angola since 1994, particularly for Concern and Christian Aid, while the European Commission has recently approved a humanitarian aid package of over $17 million which will focus on medical, nutritional and resettlement needs.
The Government will continue to work closely with EU partners in supporting the concerted efforts of the United Nations and other members of the international community to advance the peace process, which offers a unique and historic opportunity for Angola to set about building a new future and for the country to reach its full potential both in its own right and as a member of the community of nations.
It is everybody's hope that the various factions in Angola will work together to bring about peace and prosperity in their land for their own people. However, the international community has a role to play. Will the Minister of State outline to the House her view and the position of the EU Troika on the UN mandate when it expires on 28 February? Is it her intention or the intention of the Troika to press for an extension, which I believe should be done? What progress is being made on that? Is it the intention of the EU General Affairs Council to press for an extension? Is this also the position being taken at the United Nations? It is very important that work should continue, to restore peace and democracy in that area and, while it obviously depends on the local input, the international community also has a role.
The UN Secretary General made clear in his most recent report to the UN Security Council on the UN verification mission for Angola, UNIVEM, on 2 December 1996 that considerable progress has been made in some areas of the Lusaka peace accords. He also, however, expressed concerns about the delays. As the Deputy knows, the real problem has been that, a superstructure or framework having been broadly agreed, various problems arise on each occasion to prevent the parties to the marriage from meeting in Angola. On that occasion the Secretary General stressed there would be no question of a complete or precipitate withdrawal by the UN from Angola at any time.
When the Tánaiste met the Angolan foreign minister in Namibia, I also had the opportunity to meet him and to discuss the issue with the South Africans. All of southern Africa is united in seeking to support this peace process. It is almost there but it needs a great deal of continuing support from the international community, particularly from the European Union. We are determined, as members of the troika, to continue to do that. However, UNITA, in particular, and the deputies and vice-ministers should be given every encouragement to go to Luanda and start the process of the national government.
Already moves have been made to integrate senior generals of the UNITA forces into the Angolan forces. That first element has gone well. The next element, as with many African peace processes, is to try to demobilise the very large number of soldiers on both sides and to get the country back to peace. We will certainly lend every help to that process.
In the process of creating and developing peace and stability within Angola after the years of conflict, it is vitally important to eliminate the landmines. The Minister of State will recall various debates when this side of the House tabled initiatives, which were eventually supported by the Government, on the banning of the manufacture and export of landmines as a lead for the world. Landmines are the curse of countries such as Angola where people cannot feed themselves because the landmines remain in the ground after the conflict is over.
What action is being taken at EU or UN level to provide assistance to Angola in the reconstruction phase to remove the legacy of landmines? Will the Minister of State elaborate on the progress which has been made on a ban within the EU on the manufacture and export of landmines? Some prominent people of various positions and titles are now supporting what we have been doing in this House for some considerable time.
They are only on the same level as the Tánaiste.
I was delighted to see Princess Diana visiting Angola and drawing the attention of the world's media to the problem of landmines. The Red Cross has been working on this issue for a number of years but the visit of such a high profile individual has drawn the attention of the world's media in a way which would not otherwise have been possible.
Not even a debate between the Minister of State and me in this House would galvanise world opinion more.
In that sense, I must say well done to her and I hope she will do even more. As President of the EU Council of Development Ministers, I made the issue of landmines, particularly the clearing of areas of landmines, one of the priorities of our Presidency. I am happy to say that considerable progress has been made in that area. At the meeting of Development Ministers further joint actions and joint programmes were agreed. As the Deputy is possibly aware, there will be a major conference in Brussels in June which will bring together all the countries, including Ireland, which have agreed to a total ban.
I was particularly pleased when chairing that Council that the French representatives came forward with a substantially advanced position on earlier points which they had put forward on landmines. In my two years on the Development Council the situation has gone from one where there were objections when I first raised the question of landmines to the present situation where there is almost universal agreement that this must be done. However, some countries still need to be persuaded of the urgency of the issue.
The European Union, through ECO, has agreed funding of $17 million for landmine clearance. If the peace accords are implemented further funding will be made available. Most of Ireland's assistance to Angola is in the area of landmine clearance, working with a number of NGOs such as Concern and Christian Aid which have programmes in the area. There are some proposals, for example, from a number of our Army doctors to work with a British organisation called Merlin on rebuilding some hospitals in Angola in order to provide prosthetic and other care for people who have suffered as a result of landmines.
