Angola, Zambia, Namibia Create Border Security Mechanism

Angola, Zambia and Namibia have decided to set up a permanent tripartite mechanism for the defense of the inviolability, indivisibility and security of their common borders, according to a final communique issued here on Saturday after a tripartite summit in Luanda.

The Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and his Namibian and Zambian counterparts Sam Nujoma and Frederick Chiluba, as well as some high-ranking officials from the three countries attended the summit.

Conscious of the need for the existence of a climate of peace, security and stability for a harmonious development of their respective countries, the heads of state decided to cooperate in creating concrete mechanisms to ensure the freedom of movement and the security at common borders, said the communique.

The three heads of state condemned all acts of armed subversion and of terrorism attempting on the life and goods of the populations and threatening the democratic institutions.

According to the Namibian Foreign Minister Ben Gurirab, the tripartite mechanism also aims to prevent both the illegal circulation of people and vehicles, and the unlawful trade of diamonds, ivory and other goods as well as the smuggling of arms and bleaching of money.

Before the final communique was read out, the Angolan Foreign Minister Joao Miranda held talks with his Namibian and Zambian counterparts Ben Gurirab and Keli Walubita. They signed the Luanda Declaration that formalizes the constitution of the above tripartite mechanism.

It was reported that Angola, which fears the rebels' establishment of rear bases in neighboring countries including Zambia, had accused Zambian officials of giving support to the rebel National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), while Zambia accused Angola of attacking its border villages.

This summit is the first face-to-face encounter between the Angolan and the Zambian presidents since the accusations were raised two years ago.






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