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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release September 9, 1996

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

The United States is concerned by the lack of progress in the Angolan peace process over recent months. The President has sent Special Envoy Ambassador Paul Hare to Angola to meet with President dos Santos and Dr. Savimbi to underscore American commitment to the fulfillment of the peace accords and concern over continuing delays. His trip follows a series of high-level discussions with Ambassador Donald Steinberg who was in Washington last week for consultations. Ambassador Hare arrived in Angola today.

Persistent delays in the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol threaten to undermine the substantial progress achieved toward lasting peace and national reconciliation. The United States calls on the signatories of the Lusaka Protocol to take tangible steps toward achieving full military integration and formation of a government of national reconciliation in the coming weeks. In particular, it is important at this stage that UNITA surrender its remaining heavy weapons and complete the quartering of its forces.

The United States welcomes the arrival in Luanda today of six UNITA generals, some of whom are among the initial ten senior generals to be integrated into the national military. This is an important step toward the full incorporation of UNITA's army into the Angolan Armed Forces. We also welcome the commitment of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and UNITA leader Dr. Jonas Savimbi to meet inside Angola within the next ten days.

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