/ 12 May 1999

ANGLO, ZAMBIA TALKS START

TALKS between Zambian and Angolan officials to ease the tension between the two countries opened in Swaziland on Monday. The five days of talks, mediated by Swaziland as chair of the security committee of the Southern African Development Community, are “to discuss the whole range of issues affecting our relationship,” a Zambian foreign ministry official said. Angola has repeatedly accused Zambia of aiding Unita, and has threatened reprisals. Lusaka has consistently denied any government involvement, and last month again called on the international community to investigate Luanda’s charges. A source claimed on Monday that Luanda is deliberately overstating the extent of cross-border supply links between Zambia and Unita as an excuse for its battlefield setbacks, and to pressure Lusaka into allowing the Angolan army to use Zambian territory to attack Unita’s southeastern bases.