FBIS WEU 90 019 29 January 1990 16 PORTUGAL Savimbi The Cubans cannot say this because our commander, who is a major, when he realized that he had attacked a position where the MPLA the FAPLA (People Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola)and the Cubans were together, he gave orders to halt the attack. He knew that (word indistinct) is exceptional. We cannot accept this version of a knifing. There was no knifing. Moniz) The United States is (word indistinct) its logistic support to UNITA following this ſword indistinct. Savimbi Our explanation has also been corroborated by the State Department. Moniz This is not exactly so. Herman Cohen made a statement last week promising the Angolan authorities that we quote of his personal and institutional commitment to get Congress to review aid to UNITA. Does this decision not seem linked to the incident. Savimbi No, first, because it was known before Ambassador Cohen was going to Luanda and later (words indistinct. Moniz Therefore, Mr Cohen says one thing to the Angolan authorities and another. Savimbi interrupting No, it is not policy to suspend aid to UNITA not Congress nor the administration. They accepted our explanation because they know that there have only been. 12) incidents since the Cubans started to withdraw from Angola. There are 60, 000 Cuban troops withdrawing from Angola. passage omitted (Moniz) But Ambassador Cohen position is not only because of this. It is also because of the circumstances and proof that South Africans are on the ground clearly supporting UNITA militarily. Savimbi No, this is not true. It is not possible with UNTAG United Nations Transition Assistance Group. the UN troops in Namibia. How could they allow South African troops to support UNITA? How can the MPLA prove that South Africa is once more supporting UNITA?(passage omitted) We have not received any further support from South Africa. The United States, the whole world knows this even the Portuguese Government knows that after the New York accords, the South Africans can no longer give any material support 10 UNITA. But we have many friends in South Africa most of them are Portuguese. Through them we can get transit facilities for journalists and friends, but no material support. Moniz) Well, but there is the statement of eight African heads of state who confirm that you agreed. passage omitted (Savimbi No one asked me to. If someone asked me to do this, would not have accepted. First, if we want peace in Angola and we proclaim national reconciliation, this means a coming together of the Angolan family, not exiling individuals. passage omitted Moniz Would UNITA accept the idea of UNITA members being integrated into a national army. Savimbi) think that the most important point is political. If we agree to the formation of a civil multiparty society, we do not need two or three armies. We can therefore integrate our forces. Moniz Therefore, you are in agreement with this aspect of the plan put forward by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Savimbi. sentence indistinct. Moniz He is speaking about a national army. Savimbi) Exactly Moniz There. Savimbi interrupting But that it should not be dominated by the MPLA naturally. We should first find a political solution. passage omitted (Moniz) You not accept that the MPLA should be the only acknowledged party in Angola. Savimbi) think that this is outdated. It is outdated in Angola and in the whole world. Who would accept a single party today. Moniz But President Eduardo dos Santos has a radically opposite view. He says that we are in Africa he said this weeks ago and that Africa is completely different from the Western world. There are no condi tions for this. Savimbi) So is Africa different from the rest of the world? The needs for (word indistinct. aspirations. frustrations) are the same whether in Europe or Africa. Moniz Dr Savimbi, you clearly support a political system with the MPLA and UNITA. Savimbi) Not only. The MPLA and UNITA and other political forces. Moniz What other political forces. Savimbi They could emerge. We cannut rule out the possibility that an open society will not throw up other political parties. Moniz But how can political parties emerge in Angola without a political culture and with so many ethnic groups? Will there not be political forces with predominant links to each ethnic group. Savimbi We are now talking about a reality which think has been surpassed. Ethnic groups in Africa have always existed. The European past. has also had ethnic groups. This is not the case. Today the MPLA and UNITA are protagonists in a war, but they do not (Moniz) Is Gbadolite definitely buried?
Savimbi No. think it was premature euphoria, because a 15 year old war cannot end with a declaration.
It needs more than that. passage omitted We had one impression of the contents of the Gbadolite agreement)
and the MPLA had another interpretation Moniz) So you never said you would leave. Savimbil No, and no one asked me to. It would have been ridiculous.