Luanda calls for sanctions against South Africa

The Angolan government has called for sanctions to be implemented against South Africa as one of those countries that are not doing enough to stop the arms flow to the UNITA
rebel movement, a 'Business Day' report said on Tuesday.

George Chicoty, the Angolan foreign minister and government spokesman was quoted by the newspaper as saying that "sanctions should be applied against those countries not doing enough to stop the arms flow to UNITA." He added: "These sanctions should include Burkina Faso, Zambia, South Africa, Ukraine and Uganda." Chicoty added: "There should be some punishment that will make countries realise that UN sanctions should be respected and implemented."

In media reports on Wednesday, Aziz Pahad, the South African minister of foreign affairs denied that South Africa was violating the UN arms embargo against UNITA. Pahad was quoted as saying that the South African government was constantly in touch with the Angolan government, and he rejected Chicoty's claim that relations between the two countries were deteriorating. "He seems to be suggesting that since President Thabo Mbeki came into government relations have strained. I do not know on
what basis he is making that statement," Pahad said.

In the 'Business Day' report Chicoty was quoted as saying that relations between the two had deteriorated in the past few months. "We all agree relations are not at their best," he said. Chicoty added: "I do not know if its is because of the arrival of Thabo Mbeki or not. But our two country's need to work harder to improve relations."

Pahad said that he could not rule out that there could be private South African citizens who might be violating UN sanctions.