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Angola: Annan extends appointment of chief envoy for African issues

Angola: Annan extends appointment of chief envoy for African issues

With many issues in Angola remaining to be addressed, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has decided to extend the appointment of his special adviser for Africa through February 2003.

In a letter to the President of the Security Council released today, Mr. Annan writes that the efforts of Ibrahim Gambari, his Special Adviser for Special Assignments in Africa, have had a positive impact on relations between the Angolan Government and the United Nations system in opening new channels of cooperation.

However, "there are still many issues which need to be addressed in Angola, such as getting the parties to agree to negotiate under the Lusaka Protocol, supporting civil society, assisting the Government in developing pilot projects for resettlement, helping to create conditions for the holding of credible elections, and management of the peace and reconciliation fund as requested by the Government of Angola," the letter says.

Mr. Gambari has also been providing the Secretary-General with advice on other African issues, including the Great Lakes region, southern Africa and the work of the General Assembly's Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa.

In other news from the region, Mr. Annan informed the Council of his intention to appoint David Stephen as his Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau and chief of the UN Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) starting next February.

Mr. Stephen, currently the chief of the UN Political Office in Somalia, will succeed Samuel C. Nana-Sinkam.