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DATE=4/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247832
TITLE=ANGOLA / ZAMBIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THERE ARE NEW PUBLISHED ALLEGATIONS OF ZAMBIAN COMPLICITY
IN THE ACQUISITION OF MIG FIGHTER-BOMBERS BY ANGOLA'S UNITA REBEL
MOVEMENT.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM OUR 
SOUTHERN AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT:  THE "MAIL AND GUARDIAN" NEWSPAPER OF SOUTH AFRICA REPORTS 
SIX MIG-23 JETS, PILOTED BY UKRAINIANS, SPENT NEARLY TWO WEEKS 
EARLIER THIS YEAR AT ZAMBIA'S NDOLA AIRPORT.  
THE PUBLICATION SAYS AIRPORT AUTHORITIES INITIALLY CLAIMED THE 
AIRCRAFT BELONGED TO THE ZAMBIAN AIR FORCE AND WERE UNDERGOING 
REPAIRS.  BUT THE "MAIL AND GUARDIAN" SAYS THAT EXPLANATION WAS 
ABANDONED AFTER IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ZAMBIAN OFFICIALS THAT 
THEIR COUNTRY'S AIR FORCE DID  NOT HAVE ANY MIG-23'S.
HOWEVER, AS FIRST REPORTED BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA, THE UNITA 
REBEL MOVEMENT RECENTLY TOOK DELIVERY OF SIX MIG-23'S, WHICH 
SECURITY SOURCES SAY WERE PURCHASED FROM SUPPLIERS IN THE 
UKRAINE.  
A SENIOR ANGOLAN OFFICIAL INTERVIEWED BY V-O-A HAS CHARGED 
ZAMBIA'S GOVERNMENT BROKERED THE PURCHASE OF THE JETS AS WELL AS 
THE ACQUISITION BY THE REBELS OF SEVERAL MI-25 HIND HELICOPTERS. 
THE OFFICIAL CLAIMS THAT IN RETURN FOR ARRANGING THE ARMS 
TRANSFER, ZAMBIA RECEIVED AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT FOR 
ITSELF, PAID FOR BY UNITA.
ZAMBIA HAS DENIED THE CHARGES.
THE UNITA MIGS ARE UNDERSTOOD TO BE BASED IN REBEL-HELD TERRITORY
IN SOUTHEASTERN ANGOLA.  SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN  NO  CONFIRMED 
REPORTS OF THE AIRCRAFT BEING USED IN ATTACK MISSIONS.  
THE "MAIL AND GUARDIAN" REPORT ABOUT ZAMBIA'S ALLEGED ASSISTANCE 
TO THE REBELS FOLLOWS A SUMMIT MEETING IN LUANDA THAT BROUGHT 
TOGETHER THE LEADERS OF ANGOLA, CONGO-KINSHASA, NAMIBIA, AND 
ZIMBABWE TO SIGN A DEFENSE PACT AND TO DISCUSS REGIONAL SECURITY 
ISSUES.
A COMMUNIQUE ON THE TALKS INCLUDED A NEW APPEAL TO OTHER AFRICAN 
COUNTRIES TO STRICTLY OBSERVE UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS BARRING 
AID TO UNITA.  (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
09-Apr-99 8:36 AM EDT (1236 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.