Security Council does not adopt text condemning South Africa for attack against Angola.

Security Council does not adopt text condemning South Africa for attack against Angola

On 18 June, a draft resolution calling for condemnation of and sanctions against South Africa for a "premeditated and unprovoked attack' on the port of Namibe in Angola as well as its continuing occupation of parts of the territory of that State, was not adopted by the Security Council because of negative votes cast by two of its permanent members.

The text also called for condemnation of South Africa for its "premeditated, persistent and sustained armed invasions of Angola', and utilization of Namibia "as a springboard for armed invasions and destabilization' of Angola.

South Africa stated that its Defence Force had denied that it "operated in the harbour town of Namibe'.

The vote was 12 to 2 (United Kingdom, United States), with 1 abstention (France). The draft (S/18163)-- submitted by Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Trinidad and Tobago, and United Arab Emirates--would also have had the Council determine that South Africa's "policies and acts of aggression' constituted "a threat to international peace and security'.

The Council was asked to impose "selective economic and other sanctions' against South Africa "as an effective means of combating the apartheid system and bringing peace and stability to southern Africa'. These would have included: suspension of all new investments in South Africa; prohibition of the sale of krugerrands and all other coins minted in South Africa, of all sales of computer equipment and of all new contracts in the nuclear field; suspension of all new investments in South Africa and of guaranteed export loans; and restrictions in the field of sports and cultural relations.

The Council would have demanded that South Africa withdraw forthwith all its military forces from Angola and cease violations of Angola's land, sea and air space.

Member States would have been requested urgently to extend all necessary assistance to Angola and other front-line States to strengthen their defence capabilities against South Africa's "acts of aggression'. Assistance to Angola to facilitate immediate reconstruction of its economic infrastructure would also have been asked.

The Council would have called upon all Member States to desist from any action which would undermine Angola's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and would have called once more upon States to implement fully the arms embargo imposed against South Africa in resolution 418 (1977).

The Council would have also demanded full and adequate compensation to Angola by South Africa for the damage to life and property "resulting from the acts of aggression'.

The vote came after three Council meetings held in 16, 17 and 18 June at Angola's request to consider what it described as "the South African aggression against the People's Republic of Angola, especially in light of the recent and continuing acts of terrorism and violation' of Angola's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The United Kingdom said it was unable to support the draft, which called for mandatory sanctions based on Chapter VII of the Charter. It opposed economic boycotts, because they did not work. The United Kingdom Government had shown itself willing to implement a range of measures against South Africa and was looking, with its partners in the Commonwealth and the European Community, at what further effective steps it could take to increase the pressure on South Africa to put an end to apartheid and its policy of destabilization. Its aim was to bring down apartheid, not the South African economy, and it would not be pushed into adopting particular measures in advance of such consultations.

The United States "with regret' had opposed the text, although there had been much in the draft resolution that it supported. It was difficult to ascertain the truth regarding "a part of the world largely inaccessible to independent and unbiased fact-finding'. A fact-finding commission might have investigated thoroughly the Angolan charge. It could not accept the call to assist Angola's military capabilities. The region needed fewer guns and more efforts to resolve disputes peacefully. The United States also could not support mandatory sanctions for reasons it had outlined on numerous occasions in the past. It was working to help the forces of reason in South Africa prevail in time to prevent increased bloodshed and chaos.

France said although it had taken national measures against South Africa, following adoption of Council resolution 569 (1985), it did not think it appropriate to transform those voluntary measures into mandatory sanctions as provided for in the draft.

Communications: On 31 May the Secretary-General received a letter from Afonso Van Dunen, Angola's Minister of External Relations (S/18129), stating that since the Council adopted resolution 577 (1985) on 6 December 1985, demanding that South Africa cease all acts of aggression against Angola and...