Brussels, 01/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 29 May the Swedish Presidency adopted on behalf of the EU a long declaration on Angola in which it above all:
"strongly condemns the attack by UNITA near the town of Caxito and the abduction of children". It reiterates that "a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict, based on the Lusaka protocol, is necessary to the democratic and economic development of the country". The EU recalls the importance that it attaches to the "Government's commitment to hold free and fair general elections in the second half of 2002. It is essential that these elections be preceded by a period of intensive preparation aimed at developing the democratic culture necessary for the conduct of successful elections" The EU states that it is "encouraged by some recent developments, including the Amnesty Law and the establishment by the National Assembly of a Standing Committee on Peace". It "welcomes the indication by President dos Santos in his speech in Luanda on 2 May that his Government is ready to engage in a dialogue on how peace may be achieved on the basis of the Lusaka Protocol" and calls on UNITA leader Mr Savimbi to "engage seriously and effectively in the search for peace and to comply with the Lusaka protocol".
Furthermore, the EU "remains deeply concerned at the prolonged severe humanitarian crises that has left three million people declared as internally displaced persons. It urges the Government to expand its humanitarian assistance programme (PNEAH) as an expression of its ultimate responsibility for the well being of all citizens in Angola". The EU encourages the Government to "spare no efforts in order to better secure the access of humanitarian aid within Government controlled areas. The EU demands all parties in the conflict, and in particular UNITA, to stop their minelaying activities". (The full text of the statement is to be found on: http: //ue.eu.int/Newsroom.