Security Council welcomes Angola's efforts to implement Lusaka peace accord

Members of the United Nations Security Council today welcomed the steps taken by the Government of Angola towards the full implementation of the Lusaka Protocol.

In a statement following the Council's consultations on Angola, the current President of the 15-member body, Gunter Pleuger of Germany, welcomed Secretary General Kofi Annan's latest report on the completion of the United Nations Mission in Angola (UNMA), set for 15 February.

"Council members also commended the Secretary General's Special Representative in Angola, Ibrahim Gambari, for his efforts to bring this important phase of the United Nations involvement in Angola to a successful conclusion," Ambassador Pleuger said.

Council members expressed their readiness to carefully study the observations in the Secretary General's report, in which he says that although UNMA has completed its mandated political tasks, residual tasks require continued attention and support.

These tasks include among others, the areas of human rights, mine action, reintegration and resettlement of ex-combatants, humanitarian assistance, economic recovery and electoral assistance.

The Secretary-General proposes that the UN Resident Coordinator resume the responsibility for UN activities in Angola upon the conclusion of the UN Mission's mandate this February 15.