18 December 2001
17 -18 DECEMBER, 2001 LUANDA, ANGOLA
1. The meting of the Committee of Ministers responsible for the SADC Organ of Politics, Defence and Security Co-Operation was held in Luanda, Angola on December 17-18 2001 under the chairpersonship of Hon. Dr Leonardo Santos Simao, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-Operation of the Republic of Mozambique,
2. The meeting was attended by Ministers from the following Member States:
Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Permanent Secretaries led the delegations of Botswana and Swaziland while the High Commissioner of Seychelles to South Africa represented his country.
3. The meeting was officially opened by the Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Angola, Hon Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos on behalf of the President of the Republic of Angola. His Excellency Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Mr Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos stressed that terrorism, because of its motivations and effects, must always be considered a crime against humanity and must be fought worldwide according to international law. He noted that in the context of Angola, terrorism has manifested itself in the massacre of hundreds of innocent civilians and the kidnapping of children, particularly during the second half of 2001.
4. In his statement, the Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers for the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Hon Dr Leonardo Santos Simao, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of the Republic of Mozambique noted that this is first integrated meeting of Ministers within the provisions of the SADC Protocol of Politics, Defence and Security Co-Operation which aims at the promotion of regional peace and security.
5. In passing a Vote of Thanks, Hon Prof Philemon Sarungi, the Minister of Defence and National Service of the United Republic of Tanzania, representing the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers for the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security commended the Government and people of Angola for their perseverance in the face of persistent threats of destabilisation and aggression by UNITA-SAVIMBI.
6. The Ministers received briefings on the political situation and developments in the SADC region and noted that generally, the region enjoys relative peace and security except in the case of a few countries. The Ministers noted that the region remains seized of these issues and is collectively engaged in the management of these conflicts.
7. On Angola, the Ministers noted with satisfaction that relative peace now prevails as a result of the Government Peace Plan which is a combination of military, economic, political and social efforts. The Ministers further noted that the FAA have recovered vast tracks of territory previously held by UNITA-SAVIMBI. The UNITA-SAVIMBI combatants are now scattered and can only resort to isolated acts of banditry. Hundreds of UNITA-SAVIMBI combatants are giving themselves up and the government has set up a fund to re-integrate them into society and the same is happening to the thousands of civilians. The government has established full administration throughout the national territory and this has significantly contributed to an improvement in the free movement of people, goods and services.
8. The Ministers commended the Government of Angola for maintaining constant dialogue with civil society, political and religious leadership in its continued search for a durable political solution to the conflict in the country, in a spirit of national reconciliation.
9. Despite the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council on UNITA-SAVIMBI, the Ministers noted that the rebel movement continues to enjoy assistance from various sources around and beyond the region. Ministers also expressed concern on the continued existence of offices, websites, publications and other facilities in support of UNITA-SAVIMBI round the world. Ministers pledged their commitment to doing everything possible to ensure that national territories are not used for activities aimed at undermining the implementation of the UNSC Sanctions against UNITA-SAVIMBI.
10. The Ministers observed that the Supplementary Report of the Monitory Mechanism on Sanctions against UNITA-SAVIMBI reveals the existence of a complex network through which UNITA-SAVIMBI continues to explore and sell diamonds.
11. The Ministers called for the continuation and intensification of sanctions against Dr Jonas Savimbi's UNITA movement in order to bring the rebel movement to dialogue and to compel it to comply with the provisions of the Lusaka Peace Protocol.
12. The Ministers srongly condemned the acts of terrorism perpetrated by Jonas Savimbi.
13. The Ministers also adopted the recommendation of the Principal Secretaries of the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee, which convened a consultative meeting in Maseru, Lesotho, on 20-21 November 2001 on the inclusion of UNITA-SAVIMBI on the list of terrorist organisations, as well as the strict fulfilment of the UNSC Sanctions against UNITA-SAVIMBI concerning the freezing of the movement's bank accounts.
14. With regard to the DRC, the Ministers noted that efforts to find a lasting solution to the DRC conflict are beginning to bear fruit and in this regard the second deployment of MONUC forces will start soon. With regard to the internal dialogue, the Ministers welcomed continued consultations between the government and other political actors in the DRC. However, the Ministers noted with concern that the Inter-Congolese Dialogue (ICD), which opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on October 15, 2001 had to be postponed primarily due to inadequate funding. The Ministers further welcomed the financial contributions made by South Africa and Malawi towards the ICD and urged other SADC Members States to support the dialogue. The Ministers reiterated the SADC appeal to the international community to make financial pledges and actual disbursements of funds in order to ensure the success of the ICD, which holds the key to the peaceful resolution of the DRC conflict. The Ministers expressed the hope that the dialogue will resume at the end of January 2002 in South Africa as planned.
15. The Ministers expressed gratitude to the international cooperating partners, which have consistently supported the Peace Agreement on the DRC and urged them to continue this support until peace and security returns to that country.
16. The Ministers noted the withdrawal of some military forces from the DRC and called upon all uninvited forces to withdraw without any further delay.
17. In the case of Lesotho, the Ministers noted with satisfaction that preparations are being finalised for elections to be held in Lesotho during the first half of 2002. All political parties have been working together with the Independent Electoral Commission and the Independent Political Authority to ensure free and fair elections in 2001.
18. The Ministers noted that in Zambia, tripartite (presidential, parliamentary and local government) elections are to take place in Zambia on December 27, 2001 during which a new President will be elected. They noted that the atmosphere in the run-up to the elections has been peaceful thereby providing an environment conducive to free and fair elections. The Ministers noted that Zambia was working closely with Angola and the DRC to address the security situation along their common borders.
19. On Zimbabwe, the Ministers noted progress with regard to the Land Reform and Resettlement programme and the completion of the communal decongestion programme and that work on the commercial farms resettlement has started. The Ministers noted the Communique of the Ministerial Task Force on Developments in Zimbabwe which met on December 10-11, 2001 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Among other things, the Ministerial Task Force on Developments in Zimbabwe noted the following:
20. The Ministers noted with appreciation Zimbabwe's commitment to invite and welcome observers during the pre-election campaign period as well as the voting process. They also noted that this was a clear indication of the government's intention to ensure free and fair elections.
21. The Ministers also reiterated SADC's opposition to sanctions against Zimbabwe as envisaged in the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Bill, which was passed recently by the US Congress and the European Parliament smart sanctions resolution. In this regard, the Ministers agreed to support Zimbabwe in the proposed dialogue with the European Union under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement.
22. On the issue of terrorism, the Ministers unanimously reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its manifestations. The Ministers noted that several SADC Member States have been victims of terrorism, which has resulted in the loss of innocent lives, maiming of innocent civilians and massive destruction to social and economic infrastructure. SADC Member States joined the rest of the world in the condemnation of the barbaric and inhumane acts of terrorism unleashed on the United States of America on September 11, 2001. The Ministers noted that acts of terrorism not only threaten the security of innocent individuals but also threaten the security of the nation states and the world community. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to employ all the resources at their disposal to fight the scourge of terrorism and ensure peace and security for the world.
23. The Ministers urged all Member States to ratify, accede to where appropriate and implement the 1999 OAU Convention of the Prevention of Combating of Terrorism and relevant UN Conventions on terrorism as well as to enact appropriate national legislation to combat terrorism. The Ministers also directed the SADC Inter-State Defence and Security Committee to develop appropriate legal instruments and a plan of action to combat terrorism at the regional level.
24. The Ministers also produced a draft declaration on terrorism to be presented to Summit for consideration and approval.
25. On the funding of the activities of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, the Ministers approved the development of the Indicative Strategic Plan for the Organ (SPO) which will clearly spell out the costs of the implementation of the activities of the Organ as well as a strategy for cooperation with regional and international cooperating partners.
26. During their stay in Angola, the Ministers paid a courtesy call on H.E. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to whom they expressed their admiration and acknowledgement for the continued effort taken in search of peace and stability in Angola and the region as a whole.
27. The Ministers expressed sincere gratitude for the generous and warm hospitality extended to them during the meeting and the facilities provided by the Government of the Republic of Angola for the meting.
Luanda, Republic of Angola
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs