UNITED STATES POLICY ON ANGOLA.

SEC. 1222. UNITED STATES POLICY ON ANGOLA. (a) Findings.— The Congress finds that— (1) it is in the interest of peace and economic development in southern Africa for the President and the Secretary of State to discuss the conflict in Angola with Soviet leaders; (2) the President has stated that the resolution of regional conflicts such as Angola, Afghanistan, and Nicaragua is critical to improvements in Soviet-American relations; (3) the proposed summit between President Reagan and Secretary General Gorbachev provides the United States with an opportunity to encourage complete Soviet-Cuban withdrawal from Angola, the possible provision of humanitarian assistance, and the holding of free and fair elections; (4) the Marxist regime in Angola known as the Popular Movement for Liberation of Angola (hereafter in this section referred to as the “MPLA”) is currently launching a major dry-season offensive against the opposition involving thousands of Cuban troops and billions of dollars in sophisticated Soviet weaponry; (5) the people of Angola are starving because of the hardships resulting from 12 years of civil war and inefficient Marxist economic policies; (6) the MPLA regime has turned to the international community for substantial food aid while continuing to spend most of Angola’s national budget on sustaining the war effort, including payments for Cuban troops and Soviet arms; and (7) the growing intensity of the war, the starvation and mounting suffering of the Angolan people, the continued presence in Angola of 37,000 Cuban combat troops and South Afri-101 STAT. 1415can forces, the continued presence and active involvement of 2,500 Soviet military advisers, and the refusal of the MPLA to negotiate with the opposition, increase the urgency of reaching a peaceful solution. (b) Policy.— It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) the United States should continue to work toward a peaceful resolution to the Angolan conflict that includes— (A) the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces and Soviet military advisers; (B) a negotiated settlement to the 12-year conflict leading to the formation of a government of national unity and the holding of free and fair elections; and (C) efforts by the President and the Secretary of State to convey to Soviet leaders at the proposed summit and in other meetings that the aggressive military build-up in Angola undermines positive bilateral relations and that the United States is committed to supporting democratic forces in Angola until democracy is achieved; (2) the people of Angola should not be left to starve because of the MPLA regime; (3) the United States should consider responding to the humanitarian needs of the Angolan people, and if humanitarian assistance is provided, such assistance should be distributed in an evenhanded manner, so that Angolans throughout the entire war-torn country are provided with food and basic medical care; (4) any humanitarian assistance should be distributed through private and voluntary organizations or nongovernmental organizations; and (5) within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State should prepare and transmit to the Congress a report detailing the progress of discussions between the Soviet Union and the United States on the conflict in Angola.