Enda Kenny
Question:55 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the General Affairs Council of the EU has recently considered the situation in Angola. [27732/98]
Written Answers. - Angolan Affairs.
The Government and our EU partners remain deeply concerned about the deterioration of the situation in Angola and the danger of a return to widespread conflict and further suffering for the Angolan people. The last occasion upon which the situation in Angola was considered at ministerial level by the Union was at the EU Council of Development Ministers in Brussels on 30 November at which Ireland was represented by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell.
The discussion of the council focused on the ongoing efforts ro reinvigorate the peace process in Angola through full compliance with the Lusaka protocol and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. In particular, we wish to see the UNITA leadership comply immediately with its obligations as agreed under the Lusaka protocol, including the complete demilitarisation of its forces and full co-operation in the immediate and unconditional extension of state administration throughout the national territory. At the same time we stongly support the efforts being made by the special representative of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Issa Diallo, to resolve the current impasse. We call on both the Government and UNITA to assist him in fulfilling his urgent task.
It is important that there should be full compliance with UN sanctions in support of the peace process. This will be assisted by implementation of the relevant EU common position and council regulations. Our concerns have also been addressed in recent Union declarations and troika démarches and in discussions with African states at the ministerial meeting of the EU and the Southern African Development Community in Vienna on 3-4 November. We support and welcome the adoption of Resolution 1313 by the UN Security Council on 3 December, extending the mandate of the UN observer mission in Angola. Every effort is being made by the Government, including in conjunction with our EU and UN partners, to reinstate a meaningful political dialogue in Angola as an alternative to the resumption of civil war.