DATE=1/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244318
TITLE=ANGOLA/UNITA/U-N (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=LUANDA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WITH ALL-OUT WAR AGAIN THREATENING TO ENGULF ANGOLA, THE
UNITED NATIONS HAS DECIDED TO END ITS PEACE MISSION IN THE
COUNTRY. V-O-A HAS LEARNED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT MISSION HAS
BEEN HAMPERED, IN PART, BY THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS OF THE
ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT -- BENT ON MILITARY VICTORY -- TO DISCOURAGE
FURTHER CONTACTS BETWEEN U-N AUTHORITIES AND UNITA REBEL LEADER
JONAS SAVIMBI. OUR SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA
REPORTS FROM THE ANGOLAN CAPITAL, LUANDA, THAT DESPITE THIS, U-N
OFFICIALS HAVE TRIED TO KEEP UP A DIALOGUE WITH MR. SAVIMBI IN A
DESPERATE BID TO AVERT WIDESPREAD BLOODSHED.
TEXT: U-N SPECIAL ENVOY TO ANGOLA ISSA DIALLO HAS NOT BEEN
ABLE TO MEET FACE-TO-FACE WITH UNITA LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI SINCE
TAKING UP HIS POST LAST YEAR. THE VOICE OF AMERICA HAS LEARNED
THAT DESPITE REPEATED DIPLOMATIC ENTREATIES, ANGOLAN AUTHORITIES
HAVE, IN THE WORDS OF ONE SOURCE, "DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO
DISCOURAGE" THE U-N ENVOY FROM SEEING MR. SAVIMBI, WHO IS
REGARDED AS THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO PEACE IN THE COUNTRY.
ANGOLAN OFFICIALS HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, CLAIMED MR. DIALLO COULD BE
KIDNAPPED AND HELD HOSTAGE BY UNITA, IF HE TRAVELLED TO THE REBEL
STRONGHOLDS OF ANDULO AND BAILUNDO IN ANGOLA'S CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.
// OPT // THEY HAVE ALSO CHARGED MR. SAVIMBI IS A DRUG AND
ALCOHOL ABUSER WHO MIGHT PHYSICALLY HARM THE U-N ENVOY. // END
OPT //
IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THAT IF HE FLEW TO THE CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS FOR A MEETING, HIS AIRCRAFT MIGHT BE SHOT DOWN.
//OPT// V-O-A HAS LEARNED OFFICIALS EVEN TRIED TO SCARE MR.
DIALLO BY CLAIMING HIS LATE PREDECESSOR, LONGTIME U-N ANGOLA
ENVOY ALIOUNE BLONDIN BEYE, WAS KILLED LAST YEAR IN A PLANE CRASH
IN WEST AFRICA ENGINEERED BY UNITA. // END OPT //
OFFICIALLY, THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT HAS SIMPLY REFUSED TO GRANT
ITS PERMISSION FOR ANY AIRCRAFT TO TAKE MR. DIALLO TO THE CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS TO SEE THE UNITA LEADER. BUT V-O-A HAS LEARNED
AUTHORITIES IN LUANDA ALSO ADVISED THE UNITED NATIONS THAT IF MR.
DIALLO MET THE REBEL LEADER ANYWAY, THEY WOULD SEVER ALL FUTURE
CONTACTS OF THEIR OWN WITH THE U-N ENVOY.
// OPT // THE GOVERNMENT OF ANGOLA HAS BRANDED MR. SAVIMBI A WAR
CRIMINAL WHO HAS REFUSED TO HONOR HIS COMMITMENTS UNDER ANGOLA'S
1994 U-N BACKED PEACE AGREEMENT TO DEMILITARIZE UNITA AND HAND
OVER TERRITORY UNDER ITS CONTROL. ANGOLAN AUTHORITIES HAVE
SOUGHT TO ISOLATE MR. SAVIMBI WHILE THE ARMY SEEKS TO DEFEAT
UNITA ON THE BATTLEFIELD. // END OPT //
DESPITE THESE ROADBLOCKS, MR DIALLO HAS MAINTAINED LIMITED
COMMUNICATION LINKS WITH UNITA OFFICIALS. //OPT// THEIR TALKS
HAVE NOT ONLY DEALT WITH SUCH SPECIFIC ISSUES AS COOPERATION IN
RESCUE OPERATIONS FOR THE PASSENGERS AND CREW OF TWO U-N
CHARTERED AIRCRAFT RECENTLY SHOT DOWN OVER THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.
SOURCES SAY THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE ALSO COVERED BROADER ISSUES
RELATED TO RESCUING THE U-N BACKED PEACE PROCESS IN ANGOLA. //
END OPT //
THE VOICE OF AMERICA HAS LEARNED THAT WHEN U-N MILITARY OBSERVERS
WERE EVACUATED FROM UNITA'S STRONGHOLDS LATE LAST YEAR, THEY LEFT
BEHIND A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM IN ORDER TO FACILITATE AN
ONGOING DIALOGUE. UNITA HAS NOT USED IT YET -- APPARENTLY
FEARING IT MIGHT SOMEHOW HELP PINPOINT MR. SAVIMBI'S LOCATION IN
A POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT ATTACK. BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED U-N
OFFICIALS WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF PRIVATE SATELLITE TELEPHONE
NUMBERS -- IN MANY CASES THE SAME ONES USED BY JOURNALISTS TO
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE REBELS.
U-N OFFICIALS HAVE DECLINED ANY FORMAL COMMENT ON THE INFORMATION
OBTAINED BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA AND CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT.
HOWEVER IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW IN LUANDA LAST WEEK, MR. DIALLO SAID
DIALOGUE AND CONTACT ARE, AS HE PUTS IT, "UNAVOIDABLE." HE SAYS
"THE SOONER IT TAKES PLACE, THE BETTER."
// REST OPTIONAL //
IRONICALLY, MR. DIALLO NOT ONLY FACES THE OPPOSITION OF THE
ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT IN SEEKING TO KEEP OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION
WITH MR. SAVIMBI. WITH THE U-N MISSION NOW WINDING DOWN, HE
APPEARS TO ALSO BE FACING OPPOSITION WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS
SYSTEM ITSELF. ALTHOUGH PAST SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS HAVE
STRESSED THE NEED FOR CONTACTS BETWEEN THE U-N AND ALL KEY
PLAYERS IN THE ANGOLAN CONFLICT, THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK THREATENED
TO IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST UNITA -- THIS TIME AFFECTING ITS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
18-Jan-99 8:09 AM EST (1309 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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