Savimbi speaks

In his first interview in over a year, UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi affirmed his presence inside Angola and called for more dialogue on national reconciliation, Portuguese radio's web site reported on Thursday. The interview was recorded on the same day by Victor Silva, a Voice of America (VOA) reporter. Although he spoke of searching for an end to war in Angola, Savimbi reportedly rejected almost everything which the Angolan government has proposed to end the conflict.

He rejected the so-called fund for national reconciliation proposed by the government. In his opinion, this would not be an instrument for peace, but it would help to create more divisions within UNITA, along with the promise of an amnesty for all the dissidents of UNITA. He added that the Lusaka accord, signed in 1994 for peace in Angola, is still valid.

Savimbi said that he wished to capitalise on the new outlook from Washington with the advent of the Bush administration. "I would like to remind the Angolans that we can take advantage of the international circumstances, at a time when the Americans are also thinking of dialogue as the solution of the conflict, because we are part of it all," Savimbi said.

In the interview, Savimbi blamed the government for putting an end to negotiations, and said he would be waiting for new signs from Luanda that they were serious about peace. "They continue to attack us in the Lundas (Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul provinces), how can they talk peace while launching an offensive?," he said.