John Gormley
Ceist:43 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views in relation to the worsening situation in Angola; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11841/99]
Written Answers. - Angolan Conflict.
The Government deeply regrets that there has been a resumption of the civil war in Angola and at the unacceptable impact which this is having on the civilian population. Conflict has resumed despite the support which had been given by Ireland and other members of the international community to the implementation of the Lusaka peace process under which some concrete progress had been made towards demobilisation, disarmament, demining, local power-sharing and parliamentary democracy. The Government and other EU member states have voiced their concerns about the increase in human rights abuses and breaches of international humanitarian law in Angola at the recent fifty-fifth session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
In its statement of 14 April, the UN Security Council has reiterated that the primary cause of the current crisis in Angola is the refusal by UNITA to comply with the basic provisions of the Lusaka protocol and has called on UNITA to comply with its obligations to demilitarise and to permit the extension of State administration to areas under its control. The council has also expressed its concern at the continued violation of its sanctions against UNITA which has been rearming. It has welcomed the mission to Angola by the chairman of the relevant UN sanctions committee which is to take place this month. The UN sanctions have been supported by the adoption of an EU common position and Council Regulations and by corresponding national legislation.
The Angolan conflict also has disturbing regional implications given bilateral tensions with Zambia and the ongoing war in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. It is hoped that the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Angola and Zambia, which was brokered by Swaziland, and recent EU démarches in Luanda and Lusaka will help to ease these tensions. Ongoing efforts to begin a peaceful dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo should, if successful, also help to lift some of the obstacles to a peaceful settlement within Angola.
It is the firm view of the Government that there is no alternative to a political settlement of the Angolan conflict. We will therefore continue to call on both sides to return to negotiation, to desist from remining, to respect human rights and to co-operate fully with humanitarian organisations in the delivery of emergency assistance. We will also continue to support the provision of such assistance – last month a grant for Angola of £150,000 was made by the Government to the International Committee of the Red Cross. We will continue to support regional efforts and those of Mr. Issa Diallo, the special representative of the UN Secretary General, to ensure a continued UN presence in Angola and to bring about an early end to the conflict.