Annan names four experts to UNITA sanctions monitoring body

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed four experts to the United Nations Security Council body monitoring the sanctions against the Angolan rebel group UNITA.

According to a letter from the Secretary-General to the President of the Security Council released today, the following experts have been appointed: Christine Gordon of the United Kingdom, Wilson Chisala Kalumba of Zambia, Juan Larrain of Chile and Ismaila Seck of Senegal. Mr. Larrain will continue to chair the monitoring mechanism.

The mechanism was set up by the Council resolution 1295 on 18 April 2000 to strengthen the effectiveness of sanctions against the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) in order to achieve a lasting settlement to the conflict. It is mandated to collect information and investigate alleged violations of the sanctions.

On 19 October by its resolution 1374, the Council extended the mechanism's mandate for an additional six months, to 19 April 2002.