Angola (Hansard, 30 April 1993)

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the United Kingdom is taking to influence South African policy with regard to her nationals funding and fighting with UNITA in Angola.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
We were actively involved in the preparation of UN Security Council Resolution 804 of 29 January 1993 which inter alia urges all member states to take all necessary steps to stop any direct or indirent military or para-military interference from their territories in Angola. There are no restrictions in international law on the supply of finance to UNITA. We have seen no evidence of such funding from South Africa.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the British ambassador to the United Nations to ensure that the United Nations mandate in Angola is successfully completed.
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§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The mandate of the United Nations Angola verification mission (UNAVEM) was to monitor the pre-election ceasefire in Angola and verify the conduct of the country's first ever democratic elections in September 1992. Since UNITA's rejection of the results of the elections and the subsequent return to civil war in Angola, UNAVEM has, with the support of the Security Council, found itself in the role of mediator between the two sides. Talks between them under United Nations auspices are currently 'taking place in Abidjan.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage recognition of the Government of Angola(a) by the United States of America and (b) by other Governments.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Recognition of the Government of Angola is a matter for independent decision by sovereign states, including the United States of America. The question has been discussed during routine bilateral exchanges between the United Kingdom and the United States.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that the ban on supplying arms to Angola is being observed, with particular reference to the supply of South African arms to UNITA.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Under the Bicesse peace accords of May 1991 the United States and former Soviet Union undertook to end supplies of lethal material to any Angolan party and to encourage other countries to do likewise.
We fully support United Nations Security Council resolution 804 of 29 January 1993 which calls on member states to respect this article of the accords. We accept South African Government assurances that it is not supplying UNITA and will seek to prevent any illegal arms supplies to Angola.