2000/391/CFSP: Council Common Position of 19 June 2000 on Angola
Date: 2000-06-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Angola, democracy, economic development, humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, settlement of disputes

21.6.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 146/1

(Acts adopted pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union)

COUNCIL COMMON POSITION

of 19 June 2000

on Angola

(2000/391/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in partic-
ular Article 15 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

The Council has adopted Common Position 95/413/
CFSP (1) defining the objectives and priorities of
the
European Union vis-a-vis Angola.

In the light of the substantial political changes that have
occurred in Angola since 1995, certain provisions of the
said Common Position are obsolete
and require
updating.

The Council has adopted Common Position 97/356/
CFSP (2) concerning conflict prevention and resolution in
98/350/CFSP (3)
Africa
concerning human rights, democratic principles, the rule
of law and good governance in Africa.

Common

Position

and

The Council has adopted Common Positions 97/759/
CFSP (4) and 98/425/CFSP (5) with regard to Angola and
aimed at inducing the ‘União Nacional para a Indepen-
dência Total de Angola’ (UNITA) to fulfil its obligations
in the peace process in view of the relevant decisions of
in particular its
the United Nations Security Council,
Resolutions 864 (1993), 1127 (1997), 1130 (1997),
1173 (1998) and 1176 (1998).

As stated in the declarations by the Presidency on behalf
of the European Union of 22 July 1999 and 17 January
2000, the Union deeply deplores the resumption of civil
war in Angola, for which the responsibility lies primarily
with UNITA under the leadership of Dr Jonas Savimbi.
The Union called for a political solution to bring lasting
peace to the country and declared its readiness to
consider how to assist the Government of Angola in
facing the challenges of rebuilding and reconstructing
the country within a democratic environment.

(1) OJ L 245, 12.10.1995, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 153, 11.6.1997, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 158, 2.6.1998, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 309, 12.11.1997, p. 8.
(5) OJ L 190, 4.7.1998, p. 1.

(6)

(7)

(8)

The United Nations Security Council has adopted Reso-
lution 1268 (1999) on the establishment of the United
Nations Office in Angola (UNOA) and Resolution 1294
(2000) on the extension of UNOA's mandate until 15
October 2000.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted Reso-
lution 1295 (2000) on the implementation of the meas-
ures against UNITA contained in Resolutions 864
(1993), 1127 (1997) and 1173 (1998) on the basis of
the conclusions and recommendations of the report of
the Panel of Experts established pursuant to Resolution
1237 (1999).

The Council adopted a resolution on demining assis-
tance on 22 November 1996 recommending that,
except for humanitarian relief, funds for mine clearance
interventions should be allocated to beneficiary coun-
tries whose authorities cease further use of anti-
personnel landmines and a Joint Action 97/817/CFSP (6)
on anti-personnel

landmines,

HAS ADOPTED THIS COMMON POSITION:

Article 1

The European Union will pursue the following objectives with
regard to Angola:

(a) to support a political solution for the Angolan conflict on
the basis of
the Lusaka
the Bicesse ‘Acordos de Paz’,
Protocol and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions;

(b) to support fully all the international efforts to tighten the
UN Security Council measures imposed against UNITA,
including through supporting the monitoring mechanism
established by Resolution 1295 (2000), and offer assis-
tance, in particular to African States and to the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) to implement
them fully;

(6) OJ L 338, 9.12.1997, p. 1.

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21.6.2000

(c) to contribute to a policy of national reconciliation in
Angola through the promotion of a culture of tolerance
and dialogue among all those within UNITA and other
political parties who are truly committed to peace and
unequivocally demonstrate their will to abide by the rules
enshrined in the Lusaka Protocol and democratic principles;

(d) to urge the Government of Angola to implement fully its
international obligations by strengthening its democratic
institutions, including by widening the participation of all
sectors of civil society in the democratic development of
the country and the holding of free and fair legislative and
presidential elections, and by respecting human rights and
freedom of
law and justice
throughout the Angolan territory;

the rule of

the media,

(e) to encourage the Government of Angola to promote peace-
building initiatives, notably in favour of
those groups
particularly affected by the conflict, as well as rehabilita-
tion, poverty alleviation and development policies, with a
view to creating conditions for an effective and durable
peace;

(f) to urge the Government of Angola to implement trans-
parent management of public resources for the benefit of
all her peoples and to support the pursuit of sound macro-
economic policies, which can ensure more accountability
and better prospects for economic growth and sustainable
development for the country;

(g) to continue to press on the Government of Angola, as a
signatory of the Ottawa Convention, and in particular on
UNITA, to cease mine-laying activities and to ensure that
valid records exist so that these weapons can be removed;

(h) to encourage cooperation and understanding among the
countries in the region for the security and economic
development there.

Article 2

In order to further the abovementioned objectives, the Euro-
pean Union is prepared:

(a) to support, in the framework of its Common Foreign and
Security Policy, initiatives contributing to a political solu-
tion for the Angolan conflict in accordance with the legal
instruments indicated in Article 1(a) and in consultation
with the UN Secretary-General, the Troika of Observer
Countries, UN Member States and regional and subregional
African Organisations;

(b) to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1295
(2000) and to support
international efforts aimed at
rendering the existing measures against UNITA under rele-
vant UN Security Council Resolutions more effective;

(c) to assist efforts by the Government of Angola to strengthen
democratic
specifically by
encouraging it in its intention to hold free and fair legisla-
tive and presidential elections and to ensure respect for

and practices,

institutions

human rights,
society and the rule of law;

freedom of the media,

independent civil

(d) to assist efforts by the Government of Angola to improve
the economic and financial situation and to fight against
corruption and poverty in coordination with the inter-
national community;

(e) to encourage the Government of Angola to meet

the
economic targets set out by the Staff Monitoring Agree-
ment between Angola and the IMF, which constitutes an
essential step in the process of reform of the Angolan
economy;

(f) to assist the Government of Angola in the rebuilding and
reconstruction of the country, paying due regard to the
rules of
transparency and accountability and within a
democratic environment;

(g) to continue its participation in the efforts to alleviate the
suffering of the Angolan population affected by the war, in
particular refugees and internally displaced persons, taking
into account the need to secure safe and unrestricted access
to them by the relief agencies in accordance with interna-
tionally accepted humanitarian principles;

(h) to contribute to the efforts made towards the social reinte-
gration of demobilised soldiers as a key element in the
stabilisation and pacification of the country;

(i) to participate in mine action operations,

with the Council resolution of 22 November 1996,
response to humanitarian needs as they arise;

in accordance
in

(j) to assist

the United Nations Office in Angola in the
discharge of the mandate entrusted to it by UN Security
Council Resolution 1268 (1999).

Article 3

The Council notes that the Commission intends to direct its
action towards achieving the objectives and the priorities of
this Common Position, where appropriate, by pertinent
Community measures.

Article 4

This Common Position shall be reviewed every 12 months
after its adoption.

Article 5

Common Position 95/413/CFSP is hereby repealed.

Article 6

This Common Position shall take effect on the day of
adoption.

its

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This Common Position shall be published in the Official Journal.

Article 7

Done at Santa Maria da Feira, 19 June 2000.

For the Council

The President

J. GAMA