Enda Kenny
Ceist:51 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Angola. [12002/99]
Written Answers. - Angolan Conflict.
The Government is deeply concerned at the resumption of the civil war in Angola and at the appalling consequences of this for 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 this some concrete progress had been made towards demobilisation, disarmament, demining, local power-sharing and parliamentary democracy. Together with our EU partners at the recent 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, we have voiced our concerns about the increase in human rights abuses and breaches of international humanitarian law in Angola.
The UN Security Council, in its statement of 14 April, 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. It 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. He has also been mandated to investigate violations and to examine possible measures to strengthen their implementation. 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 in view of the ongoing war in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and tensions with Zambia. It is hoped that the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Angola and Zambia and recent EU demarches in Luanda and Lusaka will help to ease these tensions. I hope that ongoing efforts to begin a peaceful dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo will help to lift some of the obstacles to a peaceful settlement.
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 are also providing assistance – last month a grant for Angola of IR£ 150,000 was made by the Government to the international committee of the Red Cross. We are supporting 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.