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DATE=1/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244480
TITLE=U-N / ANGOLA PEACEKEEPING (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS (THURSDAY) CALLING
ON ANGOLA TO DROP ITS OPPOSITION TO THE CONTINUED DEPLOYMENT OF A
U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN THAT COUNTRY.  THE CALL CAME DURING A 
DISCUSSION OF THE DETERIORATING SECURITY CONDITIONS IN ANGOLA, AS
WE HEAR FROM V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON.
TEXT:  THE SECURITY COUNCIL ISSUED A STATEMENT EXPRESSING ALARM 
AT THE DETERIORATING POLITICAL AND MILITARY SITUATION IN ANGOLA. 
THE STATEMENT URGES THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION 
GROUP UNITA TO RESUME PEACE TALKS.  IT PLACES MOST OF THE BLAME 
FOR THE CONFLICT ON UNITA AND ITS REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH THE 
BASIC PROVISIONS OF THE 1994 LUSAKA PEACE ACCORD, WHICH WAS 
INTENDED TO END MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF CIVIL WAR IN ANGOLA.
THE COUNCIL'S STATEMENT FOLLOWS DISCUSSION OF A REPORT ON ANGOLA 
SUBMITTED BY U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN.  IN THE REPORT, 
MR. ANNAN SAYS THE CONDITIONS FOR A MEANINGFUL U-N PEACEKEEPING 
ROLE IN ANGOLA NO LONGER EXIST.  HE SAYS THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE 
NOW IN ANGOLA SHOULD BE REMOVED OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, OBJECT TO 
THE REMOVAL OF THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF 
SEVERAL HUNDRED SOLDIERS.  THE COUNCIL STATEMENT, READ BY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT CELSO NUNEZ AMORIM OF BRAZIL, DOES NOT REJECT OR 
ENDORSE MR. ANNAN'S RECOMMENDATION.
                       /// AMORIM ACT ///
         THE SECURITY COUNCIL UNDERLINES THE GREAT IMPORTANCE IT 
         ATTACHES TO A CONTINUED MULTIDISCIPLINARY PRESENCE OF 
         THE UNITED NATIONS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A 
         REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IN ANGOLA.  IT 
         RECOGNIZES THAT SUCH A CONTINUED PRESENCE DEPENDS ON THE
         SAFETY OF UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL AND REQUIRES THE 
         AGREEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ANGOLA AND THE 
         COOPERATION OF ALL CONCERNED.  IN THIS CONTEXT, IT 
         APPEALS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ANGOLA TO PROVIDE SUCH 
         AGREEMENT AND TO UNITA TO COOPERATE FULLY.
                         /// END ACT ///
DIPLOMATS SAY UNITA AND THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT ARE EAGER FOR THE 
PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, AS THAT WOULD REMOVE THE
LAST OBSTACLES TO A FULL SCALE BATTLE.  THEY SAY EACH SIDE IN THE
CONFLICT BELIEVES IT HAS THE MILITARY ADVANTAGE.  U-N OFFICIALS 
SAY IT IS HARD FOR MR. ANNAN TO CALL FOR THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE 
TO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE ANGOLAN 
GOVERNMENT.
IN ITS STATEMENT, THE COUNCIL SHARES MR. ANNAN'S CONCERN OVER THE
WORSENING HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN ANGOLA.  MR. ANNAN WANTS A 
CONTINUED U-N HUMANITARIAN PRESENCE IN ANGOLA, BUT REMAINS 
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HUMANITARIAN STAFF.  (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
21-Jan-99 5:02 PM EST (2202 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.