New UN operation to oversee troop withdrawal, elections.

• Position: United Nations - Mozambique

A new UN peace-keeping mission has been established by the Security Council to help implement a peace accord for Mozambique, signed in Rome on 4 October 1992, to end 14 years of civil war.

In adopting unanimously resolution 797 (1992) on 16 December, the Council authorized the UN Operation in Mozambique--to be known by the acronym ONUMOZ--for an initial period of 10 and a half months, until 31 October 1993. Its estimated 8,000 military and civilian personnel are to monitor withdrawal of foreign forces from the country and help administer the electoral process and humanitarian assistance.

The General Peace Agreement for Mozambique between the Government and the Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana (RENAMO), which sets out principles and modalities for achieving peace, calls on the UN to supervise its implementation.

The Council endorsed the Secretary-General's recommendation that elections not take place until the Agreement's military aspects had been fully implemented. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was invited to consult closely with all Mozambican parties on the precise timing of and preparations for presidential and legislative elections. Under the Agreement, those elections should be held simultaneously a year after its signing.

The Mozambican Government and RENAMO were asked to cooperate fully with the UN to respect scrupulously the cease-fire, which entered into force on 15 October, and their obligations under the Agreement. Such compliance was considered a necessary condition for fulfilment of the ONUMOZ mandate. The Council also demanded that all parties ensure the safety of UN personnel.

Military observers

On 13 October, Aldo Ajello of Italy was appointed interim Special Representative for Mozambique, in line with Council resolution 782 (1992), adopted unanimously that same day. The dispatch of a team of up to 2 5 military observers was also approved under its terms.

Deeply concerned by reports of major violations of the cease-fire in Mozambique, the Council on 27 October had called upon parties to respect scrupulously the cease-fire and all commitments...