Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Signing of a Ceasefire Memorandum between the Angolan National Armed Forces and the Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) Forces

April 1, 2002

The Government of Japan welcomes the fact that the Angolan National Armed Forces and the anti-government UNITA forces signed on March 30 (Sat) a memorandum on the implementation of a ceasefire agreement.
The Government of Japan strongly expects that the signing will lead to a formal ceasefire agreement between the Angolan Government and UNITA and that the civil war in the country will terminate at the earliest date possible. Japan highly appreciates the efforts by the Angolan Government for national reconciliation and for the nation rebuilding, including the incorporation of the UNITA forces into the National Armed Forces and state police and the establishment of the Amnesty Law. Japan is also ready to support the efforts for peace and stability in Angola as well as for nation rebuilding and reconstruction to the full extent in cooperation with the international community.

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