United Nations Security Council Resolution 1295
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1295, adopted unanimously on April 18, 2000, after reaffirming Resolution 864
(1993) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola
, particularly resolutions 1127
(1997), 1173
(1998) and 1237
(1999), the Council authorised a tightening of sanctions against UNITA
and established a panel of experts to investigation violations of Security Council resolutions imposing measures against UNITA.
Resolution 1295 was adopted in the aftermath of the Fowler Report
, which detailed how countries worldwide were violating sanctions against UNITA.
and its impact on the civilian population. It reiterated that the primary cause of the crisis in Angola was the failure of UNITA, under the leadership of Jonas Savimbi
, to comply with obligations under the Acordos de Paz, Lusaka Protocol
and relevant Security Council resolutions. In this regard, it demanded that UNITA immediately and unconditionally complete the demilitarisation
of its forces and co-operate in the extension of state authority throughout Angola.
The Council noted that the measures against UNITA were intended to promote a political settlement of the conflict by restricting its ability to achieve goals through military means. There were violations of the measures relating to the provisions of arms and related materiel
, petroleum
and petroleum products, diamond
s, funds and financial assets and travel and representation against UNITA. The preamble of the resolution also expressed concern at the provision of military assistance to UNITA and presence of foreign mercenaries
. It welcomed decisions by the Chairman of the Committee established in Resolution 864 to improve the effectiveness of the sanctions, and of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and Southern African Development Community
(SADC) supporting measures against UNITA.
, was divided into several sections concerning different aspects of the measures against UNITA.
, the Council stressed the importance of all states complying with measures imposed against UNITA in previous Security Council resolutions. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was required to establish a monitoring mechanism consisting of up to five experts to investigate alleged violations of the sanctions against UNITA for a period of six months. They were instructed to provide a report on their findings by October 18, 2000 with a view to improving the measures. The Council would then, upon the receipt of the report, consider ways of improving the sanctions and action under the United Nations Charter
for states involved in the violation of the measures.
s into Angola. Representatives from SADC were invited to participate.
or petroleum products into Angola was encouraged by the Council, such as monitoring of supplies of oil in the area and the role of SADC in this process. SADC was invited to monitor the border areas with Angola counter arms smuggling
and was asked to take the lead against the illegal fuel supplies to UNITA.
had announced steps in that direction and it was called upon to restrict UNITA's access to the diamond market and other countries were asked to adopt similar measures.
s and the freezing of such funds.
in this respect. The resolution called upon countries near Angola to enact domestic legislation making it a criminal offence to violate measures against UNITA imposed by the Security Council. The Secretary-General was invited to strengthen co-operation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organisations, including Interpol
to monitor and enforce the sanctions.
The Council welcomed international support for the measures against UNITA and underlined the important role that SADC would play in the implementation of the sanctions.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1295, adopted unanimously on April 18, 2000, after reaffirming Resolution 864
United Nations Security Council Resolution 864
United Nations Security Council Resolution 864, adopted unanimously on September 15, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 696 , 747 , 785 , 793 , 804 , 811 , 823 , 834 and 851 , the Council noted the continuing situation in Angola and went on to condemn and place international sanctions on...
(1993) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, particularly resolutions 1127
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1127
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1127, adopted unanimously on August 28, 1997, after reaffirming Resolution 696 and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, imposed sanctions on UNITA following the lack of compliance in...
(1997), 1173
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173, adopted unanimously on June 12, 1998, after reaffirming Resolution 696 and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, particularly Resolution 1127 , the Council announced its intention to impose further sanctions against UNITA for non-compliance, unless...
(1998) and 1237
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1237
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1237, adopted unanimously on May 7, 1999, after reaffirming Resolution 696 and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, particularly resolutions 864 , 1127 , 1173 and 1229 , the Council established expert panels to investigate violations of measures imposed...
(1999), the Council authorised a tightening of sanctions against UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
and established a panel of experts to investigation violations of Security Council resolutions imposing measures against UNITA.
Resolution 1295 was adopted in the aftermath of the Fowler Report
Fowler Report
The Fowler Report, released on March 14, 2000, is a United Nations report detailing how various companies, African and European governments, including that of Angola and the political wing of UNITA, violated the Lusaka Protocol as well as UN-imposed sanctions...
, which detailed how countries worldwide were violating sanctions against UNITA.
Observations
The Security Council expressed its alarm at the continuing civil war in AngolaAngolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
and its impact on the civilian population. It reiterated that the primary cause of the crisis in Angola was the failure of UNITA, under the leadership of Jonas Savimbi
Jonas Savimbi
Jonas Malheiro Savimbi was an Angolan political leader. He founded and led UNITA, a movement that first waged a guerrilla war against Portuguese colonial rule, 1966–1974, then confronted the rival MPLA during the decolonization conflict, 1974/75, and after independence in 1975 fought the ruling...
, to comply with obligations under the Acordos de Paz, Lusaka Protocol
Lusaka Protocol
The Lusaka Protocol, signed in Lusaka, Zambia on October 31, 1994, attempted to end the Angolan Civil War by integrating and disarming UNITA and national reconciliation. Both sides signed a ceasefire as part of the protocol on November 20.-Negotiation:...
and relevant Security Council resolutions. In this regard, it demanded that UNITA immediately and unconditionally complete the demilitarisation
Demilitarisation
Demilitarisation or demilitarization is the reduction of a nation's army, weapons, or military vehicles to an agreed minimum. Demilitarisation is usually the result of a peace treaty ending a war or a major conflict....
of its forces and co-operate in the extension of state authority throughout Angola.
The Council noted that the measures against UNITA were intended to promote a political settlement of the conflict by restricting its ability to achieve goals through military means. There were violations of the measures relating to the provisions of arms and related materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
, petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
and petroleum products, diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
s, funds and financial assets and travel and representation against UNITA. The preamble of the resolution also expressed concern at the provision of military assistance to UNITA and presence of foreign mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
. It welcomed decisions by the Chairman of the Committee established in Resolution 864 to improve the effectiveness of the sanctions, and of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and Southern African Development Community
Southern African Development Community
The Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states...
(SADC) supporting measures against UNITA.
Acts
The resolution, proposed by CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, was divided into several sections concerning different aspects of the measures against UNITA.
Violation of sanctions against UNITA
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, the Council stressed the importance of all states complying with measures imposed against UNITA in previous Security Council resolutions. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
was required to establish a monitoring mechanism consisting of up to five experts to investigate alleged violations of the sanctions against UNITA for a period of six months. They were instructed to provide a report on their findings by October 18, 2000 with a view to improving the measures. The Council would then, upon the receipt of the report, consider ways of improving the sanctions and action under the United Nations Charter
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
for states involved in the violation of the measures.
Trade in arms
All countries were urged to be vigilant so as to avoid the transfer of weapons to unauthorised users or destinations and were encouraged to ensure effective monitoring in this regard. Countries were also invited to consider to convene conferences with states where weapons were manufactured or exported for the purposes of ending illicit flows of weaponWeapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s into Angola. Representatives from SADC were invited to participate.
Trade in petroleum and petroleum products
The convening of a conference on methods of curbing the illegal supply of petroleumPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
or petroleum products into Angola was encouraged by the Council, such as monitoring of supplies of oil in the area and the role of SADC in this process. SADC was invited to monitor the border areas with Angola counter arms smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
and was asked to take the lead against the illegal fuel supplies to UNITA.
Trade in diamonds
The Council was concerned that the trade in diamonds was a major source of funding for UNITA. Diamond trading countries were asked to impose severe penalties for possession of diamonds in violation of Resolution 1173. BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
had announced steps in that direction and it was called upon to restrict UNITA's access to the diamond market and other countries were asked to adopt similar measures.
Funds and financial measures
Countries were encouraged to hold a conference on ways to strengthen the implementation of the financial measures imposed against UNITA. They were asked to work with financial institutions on their territory to identify funds and assetAsset
In financial accounting, assets are economic resources. Anything tangible or intangible that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value is considered an asset...
s and the freezing of such funds.
Travel and representation
It was important that all countries continued with travel bans against UNITA officials and their families, and to withdraw travel documents to those residing in their territory. The Committee and Government of Angola was asked to update the list of such persons subject to travel restrictions.Additional steps
SADC countries were asked to consider additional measures for air traffic in the region for detecting illegal flight activities across borders and were invited to co-operate with the International Civil Aviation OrganizationInternational Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
in this respect. The resolution called upon countries near Angola to enact domestic legislation making it a criminal offence to violate measures against UNITA imposed by the Security Council. The Secretary-General was invited to strengthen co-operation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organisations, including Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
to monitor and enforce the sanctions.
The Council welcomed international support for the measures against UNITA and underlined the important role that SADC would play in the implementation of the sanctions.
See also
- Angolan Civil WarAngolan Civil WarThe Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
- Blood diamonds
- Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)