[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6826-S6827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      SENATE RESOLUTION 121--RELATING TO THE ANGOLA PEACE PROCESS

  Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Helms, Mr. Pell, and 
Mr. Simon) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 121

       Whereas Angola has suffered one of the most violent and 
     longest-running civil wars;
       Whereas the United States was actively engaged in the war 
     in Angola, has provided more than $200 million in 
     humanitarian assistance to Angola since 1992, and has been a 
     key facilitator on the ongoing peace negotiations;
       Whereas Angola is the last civil conflict in southern 
     Africa, and regional leaders including South African 
     President Nelson Mandela consider its resolution to be a top 
     priority;
       Whereas an enduring peace in Angola, a potentially wealthy 
     country that is central to regional stability and economic 
     development, is in the national interest of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Government of Angola and National Union for the 
     Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) entered into the Lusaka 
     Protocol in November 1994 to secure a U.N.-supervised peace 
     settlement;
       Whereas the United Nations Security Council voted in 
     February to send a U.N. peacekeeping mission to Angola to 
     monitor and enforce the peace process, and more than 600 
     international monitors are deployed throughout the country;
       Whereas continuing progress toward peace makes it more 
     likely that further deployment of UNAVEM III will occur soon;
       Whereas the meeting between President Eduardo dos Santos 
     and Dr. Jonas Savimbi on May 6, 1995, at which both parties 
     reiterated their commitment to the Lusaka Protocol, 
     demonstrated that they possess the essential political will 
     to resolve outstanding issues, and encouraged all who want 
     peace in Angola;
       Whereas achieving a lasting peace will require that all 
     Angolans work together to overcome bitter legacies of war, 
     which include a devastated infrastructure, millions of 
     unexploded landmines, a profound distrust between the 
     parties, weakened civil institutions, a crippled economy, and 
     a generation of young Angolans who have never known a 
     peaceful, civil society;
       Whereas strong leadership is essential to ensure that the 
     wealth of Angola, long spent on war, now is used to 
     consolidate peace. Now therefore be it
       Resolved That the Senate:
       (1) Congratulates the people of Angola for the courageous 
     and determined steps their leaders have taken in support of 
     peace;
       (2) Urges all parties in Angola to continue to strengthen 
     their commitment to the Lusaka process, which constitutes the 
     last, and best, chance for securing an enduring peace;
       (3) Affirms that the United States will hold both Angolan 
     parties responsible for abiding by their commitment to peace; 
     and
       (4) Calls upon the international community to remain 
     actively engaged in support of national reconciliation, 
     removal of landmines, economic development, and 
     democratization in Angola.

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I am introducing a resolution, in 
conjunction with the distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on African 
Affairs, as well as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee, and others, which congratulates the people 
of Angola for the courageous steps their leaders have taken recently in 
the name of peace and reconciliation in Angola. This has been an 
arduous and painful process, but the recent meeting between President 
dos Santos and Dr. Jonas Savimbi, in addition to the deployment of the 
U.N. operation, signifies a dramatic breakthrough which may unlock the 
door to peace in Angola.
  As we all know, Angola has been engulfed in civil war ever since its 
independence from Portugal in 1975. It not only suffered vast 
dislocation and neglect following the colonial occupation, but also it 
became a classic superpower playground as Angola struggled to find for 
its postcolonial identity. Throughout the 1970's and 1980's South 
Africa and Zaire launched frequent military incursions in support of 
the Government of Angola, while mercenaries from Europe and elsewhere 
helped the rebel forces of UNITA and Dr. Jonas Savimbi fight from the 
bush. 37,000 Cuban troops supported the government and the MPLA party, 
and their involvement sparked more independence wars in Namibia. The 
United States offered covert aid to UNITA in an effort to contain 
communism in Africa for ``national security'' purposes. In addition, 
there were secessionist threats from the northern, oil-rich province of 
Cabinda, which was, ironically, home to many U.S. oil companies 
throughout the war.
  This war killed over 1 million people, and displaced and disabled 
millions more. Cities and fields are completely destroyed, and 9 to 20 
million unexploded landmines, supplied by outside powers, lace the 
countryside. Beautiful coastal lands and mineral-rich areas not only 
lay undeveloped, but have been damaged and destroyed by warfare. Bitter 
war enmities between the MPLA and UNITA have created long-lasting rifts 
which will take at least a full generation to heal. Young boys, who 
from the age of 10 have been armed and fighting, are dislocated from 
their families. An entire people has never known civil society.
  It was with the end of the cold war, the end of the United States-
Soviet rivalry, that peace actually had a chance in Angola. When 
Congress prohibited military aid to Angola, Cuban troops withdrew, and 
South Africa began to change, negotiations were finally able to begin 
between the MPLA and UNITA. The peace process of 1991 resulted in the 
Bicesse accords, and led to elections. But then disputed returns, and 
militant attacks on the MPLA by Savimbi, destroyed the process.
  By 1992, serious negotiations had begun again. Thanks to the 
relentless efforts of U.N. Special Representative Bedouin Beyh, United 
States Ambassador to Angola, Edward de Jarnette, and others--including 
South African Nelson Mandela--the Lusaka accords were finally concluded 
on November 5, 1994.
  The accords secure a U.N. supervised peace settlement, which includes 
the deployment of 5,600 U.N. peacekeeping troops, as well as 350 
military observers and 260 civilian police. It is intended to enable 
national
 reconciliation, demilitarization, economic development, and 
democratization of Angloa. It will also enable the continued delivery 
of massive food lifts, which is keeping hundreds of thousands of people 
alive as the society builds a peacetime environment.

  There have been some glitches in the peace process, and there have 
been many incidents we thought Angola would not survive. But the peace 
process made a big step last week when President dos Santos and Dr. 
Savimbi finally met face-to-face in Lusaka. [[Page S6827]] They met for 
several hours, and in the end emerged as cooperative negotiators, both 
signing the Lusaka accords. They agreed to work as partners to resolve 
outstanding issues such as consolidation of the ceasefire, resolution 
of military control issues, demining operations, repair of 
infrastructure, acceleration of the arrival of UNAVEM troops, the 
retreat of Angolan soldiers, and the formation of a national unity 
government.
  Finally, the two sides demonstrated that they have the political will 
necessary to reach a lasting and durable peace. This meeting was a long 
time in coming, and we in Congress should recognize what a milestone it 
is. For if Lusaka fails, Angola may lose its last opportunity for peace 
and prosperity. We have a lot to lose of that fails.
  The resolution we are offering today congratulates the people of 
Angola for the courageous and determined steps their leaders have taken 
in support of peace. It also urges all parties in Angola to strengthen 
their commitment to the Lusaka process, and affirms American support 
for both parties to abide by their commitments. Finally, because we 
cannot and should not do this alone, it calls upon the international 
community to remain actively engaged with humanitarian, political, and 
economic support to make this process a success.
  Angola is potentially a wealthy country with soil fertile enough to 
feed all of sub-Saharan Africa. It is also part of a region which has 
had economic and stunning political success in the past few years. As 
Africa seeks to put the cold war behind it, and as southern Africa 
consolidates into a powerhouse region, the process in Angola becomes 
all the more important. The meeting convened last week realized many of 
the gains made in recent months, and hopefully will set the process on 
a new course.


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