UN sanctions monitors in Luanda

Members of the UN Monitoring Mechanism on Sanctions against UNITA are in Luanda to hold discussions with diplomats, civil society and President Jose Eduardo dos Santos' government. Wilton Fonseca, public information officer for the UN Office in Angola, said the delegation, headed by Chilean diplomat Juan Larrain, arrived in the capital on Tuesday. "When they arrived, Ambassador Larrain told the press there was no doubt about the fact that sanctions against UNITA have been successful, and that during the recent UN sitting on Angola, it was decided that these sanctions would be maintained and there was no indication that they would be lifted until the conflict was resolved," Fonseca told IRIN. He said that on Wednesday Larrain met military leaders and said afterwards that he had been given a general idea of the military situation in the country. Facing questions regarding UN sanctions against UNITA, Larrain stressed that any decision would lie with the Security Council, Fonseca said. The monitoring mechanism was created in 2000 to ensure that sanctions against the rebel movement were being implemented. The Angolan government recently gave the UN permission to initiate contact with UNITA in an attempt to restart the stalled peace process. On Tuesday the UN delegation met Angola's ministers of foreign affairs and of national defence, Fonseca said. They are expected to be in Angola until Saturday and to submit their next report to the Security Council in April.