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DATE=8/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237636
TITLE=ANGOLA/UNITA/CONGO (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE CONGO CONFLICT MAY WIDEN 
FURTHER, ANGOLA'S REBEL MOVEMENT "UNITA" HAS WARNED IT HAS 
INTERESTS TO DEFEND IN THE CURRENT CRISIS.  MORE FROM V-O-A 
SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA.
TEXT:  UNITA SAYS IT CANNOT ACCEPT, FOR ANY REASON, THE ANGOLAN  
GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO INTERVENE MILITARILY IN THE CONGO 
CONFLICT IN SUPPORT OF EMBATTLED CONGOLESE LEADER LAURENT KABILA.
IN A STATEMENT TO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS (EDS: TUESDAY), UNITA SAYS 
THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT IN LUANDA FEELS IT HAS INTERESTS TO DEFEND
IN THE CONGO, THEN -- IN UNITA'S WORDS -- "LET IT BE KNOWN THAT 
UNITA ALSO HAS..."
THE STATEMENT STOPS SHORT OF SAYING UNITA WILL SIDE OPENLY WITH 
THE REBELS SEEKING TO TOPPLE MR. KABILA.   BUT UNITA IS KNOWN TO 
HAVE TROOPS AND WEAPONS -- DESPITE ITS REPEATED ASSERTIONS THAT 
IT HAS DEMILITARIZED COMPLETELY UNDER THE TERMS OF ANGOLA'S 1994 
PEACE AGREEMENT.
ANGOLAN TROOPS LAST YEAR HELPED PROPEL MR. KABILA INTO POWER IN 
PLACE OF LONGTIME ZAIREAN DICTATOR MOBUTU SESE SEKO, WHO HAD BEEN
SYMPATHETIC TO UNITA.  
THE CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT IN KINSHASA RESULTED IN THE CUTTING OF 
SOME OF UNITA'S MAIN ROUTES FOR SMUGGLING OUT DIAMONDS ... AND 
SMUGGLING IN ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
// REST OPTIONAL //
UNITA'S STATEMENT FOLLOWS ITS ANNOUNCEMENT MONDAY THAT IT IS 
SEVERING ALL FUTURE CONTACTS WITH PORTUGAL, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED
STATES -- THE THREE OBSERVER NATIONS INVOLVED IN THE ANGOLAN 
PEACE PROCESS.  THE REBEL GROUP ACCUSED THE SO-CALLED "TROIKA" OF
BIAS TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT IN LUANDA.
IN AN INITIAL REACTION, PORTUGAL SAID COOPERATION WITH THE 
"TROIKA" WAS ESSENTIAL AND URGED UNITA TO RECONSIDER ITS 
DECISION.
ALARMED ANALYSTS HAVE SAID THE ANNOUNCEMENT COULD BE A PRELUDE TO
A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN IN THE ANGOLAN PEACE EFFORT.  (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF/KL
25-Aug-98 12:21 PM EDT (1621 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.