DATE=1/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244268
TITLE=ANGOLA/CRISIS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=LUANDA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TIME MAY BE RUNNING OUT FOR THE U-N OBSERVER MISSION IN
ANGOLA, WHERE RECENT FIGHTING HAS ALL BUT DESTROYED A COSTLY,
FOUR-YEAR-OLD PEACE EFFORT BACKED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM THE
ANGOLAN CAPITAL, LUANDA.
TEXT: THE MANDATE OF THE APPROXIMATELY ONE-THOUSAND-STRONG U-N
PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN ANGOLA RUNS OUT ON THE 26TH OF FEBRUARY.
ALTHOUGH AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS EXPECTED FRIDAY, U-N SECRETARY
GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS YET TO DISCLOSE HIS RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO
ITS FUTURE.
ANGOLAN PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS IS ONE WHO DOUBTS THE
U-N OPERATION, KNOWN AS MONUA, WILL CONTINUE. HE HAS TOLD
FOREIGN DIPLOMATS HERE IN LUANDA THE UNITED NATIONS HAS LOST
CONTROL OVER THE PEACE PROCESS AND ITS DERAILMENT IS A REALITY.
BUT IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW, THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY TO ANGOLA, ISSA
DIALLO, SAYS HE IS WORRIED THAT A HASTY PULL-OUT COULD DAMAGE THE
CREDIBILITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
// DIALLO ACTUALITY //
THE QUESTION IS NOT WITHDRAWAL OR NOT WITHDRAWAL OF
MONUA. THE QUESTION IS, HOW TO PRESERVE THE CREDIBILITY
OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
// END ACTUALITY //
MR. DIALLO'S CONCERN IS THAT A PULL-OUT COULD LEAVE THE UNITED
NATIONS OPEN TO ACCUSATIONS THAT IT ABANDONED ANGOLA. IT IS A
CONCERN BORN OUT OF THE 1994 CRISIS IN RWANDA, WHEN MOST U-N
PEACEKEEPERS WITHDREW AS THE FIGHTING THERE ERUPTED. AS A
RESULT, MANY RWANDANS BLAME THE WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR THE
GENOCIDE THAT FOLLOWED.
WITH THAT IN MIND, MOST ANALYSTS AND DIPLOMATS PREDICT THE U-N'S
WITHDRAWAL FROM ANGOLA WILL NOT BE A TOTAL PULL-OUT. IN
ADDITION TO U-N RELIEF WORKERS, THEY EXPECT A SMALL POLITICAL
CONTINGENT WILL REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY, ON STANDBY IN CASE THE
PEACE PROCESS CAN BE RESUSCITATED.
/// REST OPT /// FIGHTING HAS SPREAD RAPIDLY IN ANGOLA SINCE
GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS ATTEMPTED IN NOVEMBER TO STAGE A SURPRISE
ATTACK ON THE UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT'S STRONGHOLDS IN THE COUNTRY'S
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. THE AIM WAS TO PUNISH REBEL LEADER JONAS
SAVIMBI FOR UNITA'S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH ANGOLA'S 1994 PEACE
AGREEMENT.
BUT UNITA WARDED OFF THE INITIAL ASSAULT WITH AN ARRAY OF HEAVY
WEAPONRY THAT CAUGHT THE GOVERNMENT SIDE BY SURPRISE. IT HAS
SINCE LAID SIEGE TO SEVERAL KEY GOVERNMENT-HELD TOWNS.
NOT ONLY WAS THE UNITED NATIONS MISSION UNABLE TO HALT THE
FIGHTING, IT ALSO PROVED INCAPABLE OF PROTECTING ITS OWN
PERSONNEL.
AFTER TWO U-N CHARTERED CARGO PLANES CARRYING 23 PEOPLE WERE
APPARENTLY SHOT DOWN OVER THE EMBATTLED CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REGION,
ONE FRUSTRATED U-N OFFICIAL TOLD V-O-A, "THIS IS CRAZY. WE
DIDN'T COME HERE TO MONITOR A WAR AND WE DIDN'T COME HERE TO
COMMIT SUICIDE."
DIPLOMATS IN LUANDA SAY THAT DESPITE THE MOUNTING PRESSURES FOR A
PULL-OUT, NO ONE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WANTS TO SIMPLY
WALK AWAY AND SIGNAL THAT OPEN WARFARE IN ANGOLA IS ACCEPTABLE.
THEY SAY IT REMAINS IMPORTANT FOR THE U-N AND OTHER CONCERNED
PARTIES TO STAND BY TO TRY AND PREVENT THE CONFLICT FROM
ESCALATING -- EVEN IF, FOR THE MOMENT, THERE APPEARS TO BE LITTLE
INTEREST ON EITHER SIDE IN HALTING THE BLOODSHED. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/DW/GE
16-Jan-99 11:03 AM EST (1603 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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