We are grateful to Foreign Minister Miranda for attending this meeting and look forward to his contributions to this discussion. We also welcome the arrival of Ambassador Jose Patricio, who will soon present his credentials to the Secretary General. The U.S. welcomes the report of the Experts' Panel and commends Chairman Mollander and his panel members for their sustained efforts. The work of the panel has enhanced the role of the international community in the search for lasting peace in Angola, and it has also focused new attention on the link between the illegal exploitation of Angola's natural resources and the continuation of its conflict. We recognize the creative and energetic work of Ambassador Fowler as Chairman of the Sanctions Committee, believing that his commitment to the implementation of sanctions served as an important catalyst for this report.
Sanctions remain a key tool in the international community's efforts on behalf of peace in Angola.
While we believe that the overall impact of sanctions has been beneficial to the search for peace, this report clearly demonstrates a need for continued strengthening of such measures, particularly in the areas of diamond sales, arms purchases and foreign travel. However, the key elements of the report are its recommendations for future action. We look forward to working with the Council and others to turn this highly informative document into a reinvigorated plan of action. In addition to making a contribution to the search for peace in Angola, the Sanctions Committee and Experts' Panel have also done pioneering work, under challenging circumstances, on the difficult question of applying sanctions regimes to non-state actors. Sanctions remain a tool to be used in pursuit of the goals of the Lusaka Protocol, which remains the most viable blueprint for peace, continued democratization and national reconciliation.