Security Council demands South Africa compensate Angola for attacks on that country: damages estimated at $36.7 million.

• Position: Also condemns violence against Lesotho

Security Council demands South Africa compensate Angola for attacks on that country: damages estimated at $36.7 million

The Security Council, in endorsing the report of its Commission of Investigation to Angola, has demanded that South Africa pay "full and adequate compensation" for the damange to life and property resulting from its "acts of aggression" against that country.

The Council, in unanimously adopting resolution 577 (1985) on 6 December 1985, also strongly condemned South Africa "for its continued, intensified and unprovoked acts of aggression" against Angola, "which constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of that country as well as for its utilization of the international Territory of Namibia "as a springboard for armed invasions and destabilization" of Angola.

Member States were urgently requested to extend all necessary assistance to Angola "to strengthen its defence capacity". [This provision, on which a separate vote was requested by the United States, was adopted by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (United States).]

The Council further demanded that South Africa cease immediately all acts of aggression against Angola and unconditionally withdraw forthwith all forces occupying Angolan territory as well as scrupulously respect Angola's sovereignty, airspace, territorial integrity and independence.

Angola was commended by the Council for its steadfast support for the people of Namibia in their just and legitimate struggle against the illegal occupation of their territory by South Africa and for the enjoyment of their inalienable rights to self-determination and national independence.

While Member States and international organizations were asked urgently to extend material and other forms of assistance to Angola to facilitate the immediate reconstruction of its economic infrastructure, Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar was requested to monitor developments in the situation and to report to the Council no later than 30 June 1986 on the implementation of the resolution.

Commission of Investigation

The Commission of Investigation undertook its mission in response to Council resolutions 571 of 20 September and 574 of 7 October 1985. Resolution 571 was adopted after the Council had considered Angola's complaint of an armed invasion by South Africa (see UN Chronicle 1985, No. 8). The Commission was charged with evaluating damage resulting from that invasion.

The...