RESOLUTION(1)

on the situation in Angola

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Strasbourg (France) from 29 March to 1 April 1999,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Angola,

- having regard to the EU Declaration of 28 December 1998,

- having regard to the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions on Angola,

A. deploring the resumption, since December 1998, of major fighting in Angola by Jonas Savimbi's UNITA forces that poses a serious threat to peace and national reconciliation in that country,

B. whereas Mr Savimbi and his forces bear the main responsibility for this grave setback in the peace process, through its failure to demilitarise its forces and to facilitate the extension of state administration, and through its defiance of the pressing demands of the Security Council and the international community,

C. whereas the only hope for a lasting peace in Angola resides in a political solution through the full and unconditional implementation of the Lusaka protocol and relevant UN Security Council resolutions,

D. strongly endorsing the demand by the UN Security Council that UNITA comply immediately and without conditions with its obligations, and supporting the full and immediate implementation of the measures against UNITA contained in UN Security Council resolutions 864 of 15 September 1993, 1127 of 28 August 1997, 1173 of 12 June 1998 and 1229 of 26 February 1999, particularly with regard to arms and diamonds,

E. perturbed at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Angola resulting from the growing number of refugees who run away from the fighting areas,

F. regretting the shooting down on 26 December 1998 and on 2 January 1999 of two UN transport planes near the city of Huambo, besieged by Savimbi's UNITA,

G. regretting the recent MONUA withdrawal from Angola,

H. whereas the Angolan population lives in abject poverty despite the plentiful natural resources of the country, which are used to finance the conflict,

1. Condemns firmly the resumption of the war which constitutes a serious setback to the peace process and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities since there can be no military solution to the conflict;

2. In the meantime, calls on the UN and the EU to maintain strong international pressure on Mr Savimbi, particularly through improved implementation and tightening of existing UN sanctions;

3. Calls for a thorough and urgent investigation by the Commission into the conduct of the diamond trade with a view to eliminating smuggling by Mr Savimbi to fund his war effort;

4. Calls on the Government of Angola and in particular on Mr Savimbi and his forces to respect human rights and to cooperate fully with the humanitarian organisations in the delivery of emergency relief assistance;

5. Calls on the Commission to provide the necessary resources to cope with the humanitarian crisis generated by the new exodus of refugees and displaced persons;

6. Condemns the shooting down of UN aircraft while transporting humanitarian aid supplies;

7. Reaffirms its view that a continued UN presence in Angola can contribute greatly to national reconciliation;

8. Condemns the use of anti-personnel mines and urges all the parties to refrain immediately from using any kind of these particularly inhuman weapons;

9. Asks the EU, furthermore, to undertake a special initiative in the field of mine clearance in order to eliminate one of the major obstacles to building a peace economy;

10. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the Commission, the UN Security Council, the OAU and UNITA.

(1) Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly on 1 April 1999 in Strasbourg (France).