RESOLUTION(1)

on the situation in Angola

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Abuja (Nigeria) from 20 to 23 March 2000,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Angola,

- having regard to the statement on Angola which the Presidency made on 17 February 2000 on behalf of the European Union,

- having regard to the resolutions of the UN Security Council,

- having regard to the resolutions on this subject by the OAU and the SADC,

A. having regard to the successive UN Security Council resolutions which blame and condemn UNITA for the non-implementation of the Lusaka Protocol and for the corresponding worsening of the political, military and humanitarian situation in Angola,

B. alarmed by the fact that the UNITA has renewed its military operations and extended them to some border areas of Namibia and Zambia,

C. whereas in spite of the country's significant natural resources, part of which was used to finance the conflict, the population in Angola continues to live in conditions of great misery,

D. whereas no lasting settlement can be found to the Angola conflict as long as the massive diamond-smuggling operations which fund UNITA are largely used for arms procurement,

E. concerned at the problem of mine clearance and the laying of further mines, activities which have cost many human lives and left an unknown number of people in the country mutilated, displaced and seeking refuge,

F. having regard to the substance of the report drawn up by Mr Fowler (Chairman of the UN Committee responsible for the sanctions imposed on Angola),

G. whereas a lasting peace for the Angolan people will only be achieved through the complete disarmament of Jonas Savimbi's UNITA and through the strict enforcement of the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council,

H. expressing concern at the freedom of the press in Angola and having regard to the recent public debate organised by the Angolan Parliament on this issue,

I. having regard to the Angolan Government's recent announcement concerning the need for suitable conditions to be created in order to enable parliamentary and presidential elections to be held as soon as possible,

1. Strongly condemns the new outbreak of violence by UNITA and its leadership under Mr Savimbi, which has failed to demilitarise its forces and facilitate the extension of state administration throughout the national territory, in defiance of pressing demands of the Security Council;

2. Calls on the UN and the EU to maintain strong international pressure on UNITA's leadership, particularly through implementation and tightening of existing UN sanctions against UNITA;

3. Encourages all Angolan political forces and members of civil society to unite their efforts to ban violence and consolidate a peaceful and democratic Angola that dedicates its main energies to the welfare of its people;

4. Is of the opinion that peace and improving democratic institutions are an essential element to achieve national reconciliation;

5. Reiterates its call for upgrading the monitoring and the implementation of sanctions against diamond-smuggling operations by UNITA and African and European traders;

6. Calls on the Angolan Government to set up a reliable and transparent certification system on diamonds;

7. Condemns the increase in mine laying activity in Angola, a country which has been a major focus of the EU mine clearance efforts;

8. Welcomes the adoption by the Angolan National Assembly of a resolution concerning the agreements relating to the opening in Angola of a UN office (the UNOA) responsible for monitoring the humanitarian situation and concerning respect for human rights in Angola, and urges the Angolan Government to support the running of that office;

9. Calls on both UNITA and the government also to fully cooperate with the United Nations and humanitarian organisations in their efforts to provide assistance and relief to all those in need in the country;

10. Calls on the EU Member States and all countries in general to increase, as a matter of urgency, the amount of humanitarian aid they supply to Angola, as requested by the UN Secretary-General;

11. Welcomes the holding of the recent public debate within the Angolan National Assembly on freedom of expression and the freedom of the press in Angola and urges the government of Angola to improve the conditions for freedom of the press in the country;

12. Encourages the government to pursue its financial, economic and legal reforms with a view to strengthening democracy, the rule of law, transparency and good governance;

13. Welcomes the recent announcement by the President of Angola concerning the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections;

14. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the Commission, the OAU and the government of Angola.

(1) Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly on 23 March 2000 in Abuja (Nigeria).