DATE=3/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / SANCTIONS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260168
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: South Africa's Foreign Minister is vowing firm
action against South Africans involved in violating
international sanctions against Angola's UNITA rebel
movement. Southern Africa Correspondent Alex Belida
reports from Johannesburg.
TEXT: Foreign Minister Nkosazana Zuma says South
Africa supports all sanctions against the UNITA rebels
and is working closely with U-N authorities to ensure
their full implementation.
But speaking to parliament (in Cape Town), Mrs. Zuma
acknowledges there are fresh allegations that some
South Africans are continuing to violate the sanctions
in order to provide the Angolan rebels with supplies.
/// ZUMA ACT ///
We are aware that some of our citizens have been
involved in efforts aiming at undermining the U-
N sanctions. We shall take firm action against
those involved.
/// END ACT ///
The South African Foreign Minister gives no details.
But fresh allegations of South African involvement in
violating sanctions against UNITA are contained in a
new U-N Security Council report. It also accuses
several African leaders of helping the Angolan rebels
obtain arms, ammunition, and other critical supplies.
Angolan affairs analyst Jakkie Potgieter of the
independent Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria
tells South African radio those identified as alleged
sanctions-busters have been mainly involved in
providing UNITA with supplies other than arms and
ammunition.
/// POTGIETER ACT ///
UNITA does not only need weapons and ammunition
to wage its war. Like any army, they are
reliant on fuel, spares, tires, lubricants,
food, medical supplies -- and those are the main
commodities that are going to UNITA out of the
Southern African region.
/// END ACT ///
In her speech to parliament, Foreign Minister Zuma
describes the conflict in Angola as one of deep
concern to South Africa. She says her government will
continue to push for a political settlement of the war
and repeats previous statements -- soundly criticized
by the government in Luanda -- that there can be no
lasting military solution.
Angola broke off peace talks with UNITA after accusing
it of failing to comply with its demilitarization
commitments under a 1994 peace agreement. Angolan
government forces have been engaged in a massive
military offensive against the rebels.
Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has called
it the final war for peace and recently said that
while the rebels have not yet been totally defeated,
they no longer pose a serious threat -- a claim
rejected by UNITA. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/RAE
14-Mar-2000 11:10 AM EDT (14-Mar-2000 1610 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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