DATE=2/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245912
TITLE=ANGOLA / U-S (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=LUANDA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE TOP U-S DIPLOMAT IN ANGOLA HAS ISSUED A
STRONGLY-WORDED DENUNCIATION OF UNITA LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI.
V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM THE ANGOLAN CAPITAL,
LUANDA, THE CRITICISM IS INTENDED TO END SUGGESTIONS BY SOME
SENIOR ANGOLAN OFFICIALS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS TAKEN TOO
EVEN-HANDED OF AN APPROACH TO THE CONFLICT IN THE SOUTHWEST
AFRICAN COUNTRY, AND MAY EVEN BE SEEKING TO DESTABILIZE IT.
TEXT: U-S AMBASSADOR JOSEPH SULLIVAN SAYS BLUNTLY THAT UNITA
LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI IS TO BLAME FOR THE RENEWAL OF FIGHTING IN
ANGOLA. MR. SULLIVAN REJECTS ANY FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
REBEL LEADER, UNLESS HE FULFILLS ALL OF HIS COMMITMENTS UNDER
ANGOLA'S 1994 PEACE AGREEMENT -- INCLUDING UNITA'S PLEDGE TO
DEMILITARIZE AS A FIGHTING FORCE, AND TO TURN OVER ALL TERRITORY
UNDER ITS CONTROL TO THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT.
IN A STRONGLY WORDED SPEECH IN LUANDA (EDS: WEDNESDAY), MR.
SULLIVAN SAYS MR. SAVIMBI HAS BEEN GIVEN WHAT HE TERMS AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF
ANGOLA -- A REFERENCE TO THE LEGALIZATION OF UNITA AS A POLITICAL
PARTY AND THE OFFER OF SPECIAL STATUS AS OPPOSITION LEADER TO MR.
SAVIMBI. BUT HE CHARGES THE REBEL LEADER HAS -- IN HIS WORDS --
"CONSISTENTLY REJECTED ALL OFFERS IN FAVOR OF MILITARY FORCE."
// OPT // THE U-S ENVOY SAYS MR. SAVIMBI HAS DELAYED THE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ANGOLA FOR TOO LONG BY RESORTING TO
ARMED CONFLICT. HE SAYS THE LIFE OF A COUNTRY SHOULD NOT COME
TO HALT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE TERMS "THE RECALCITRANCE OF ONE MAN
AND HIS FOLLOWERS." // END OPT //
THE SPEECH FOLLOWS PUBLIC CHARGES BY SOME ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS TAKEN TOO EVEN-HANDED OF AN
APPROACH IN ANGOLA. THESE OFFICIALS, INCLUDING ANGOLA'S
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, HAVE SUGGESTED THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION WAS TREATING UNITA AND THE GOVERNMENT AS EQUALS,
DESPITE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE PEACE PROCESS AND THE RESUMPTION OF
FIGHTING LATE LAST YEAR.
OTHER ANGOLAN OFFICIALS, RECALLING U-S MILITARY BACKING FOR UNITA
DURING THE COLD WAR ERA, HAVE EVEN VOICED PRIVATE CONCERN THAT
THE UNITED STATES MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN WHAT THEY CLAIMED WAS A
CONSPIRACY TO TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS
SANTOS.
// REST OPTIONAL //
THE AMBASSADOR'S SPEECH CAME ON A DAY OF BUSY DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY
IN LUANDA INVOLVING SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM BRITAIN, MOZAMBIQUE AND
SOUTH AFRICA. ALTHOUGH THE TALKS LARGELY CONCERNED ANGOLA'S ROLE
IN RESOLVING THE CRISIS IN NEIGHBORING CONGO-KINSHASA, ATTENTION
WAS ALSO FOCUSED ON EASING TENSIONS BETWEEN ANGOLA AND ANOTHER
NEIGHBOR, ZAMBIA. ANGOLA HAS CHARGED THAT ZAMBIA HAS BEEN
INVOLVED IN PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO UNITA.
BUT IN REMARKS AT LUANDA AIRPORT (WEDNESDAY), PRESIDENT DOS
SANTOS RENEWED THE CHARGES AND REJECTED PROPOSALS FOR
FACE-TO-FACE PEACE TALKS WITH ZAMBIAN LEADER FREDERICK CHILUBA,
WHO HAS DENIED AIDING THE ANGOLAN REBELS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
24-Feb-99 1:57 PM EST (1857 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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