At the 4007th meeting of the Security Council, held on 19 May 1999 in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Angola" the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:
"The Security Council strongly condemns the criminal act by the União Nacional Para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA) against commercial aircraft, namely the shooting down of an Antonov-26 aircraft on 12 May 1999 near Luzamba and the taking hostage of its Russian crew, while the fate of its Angolan passengers remains unknown.
"The Security Council expresses its grave concern at the fate of those who were on board the downed aircraft, demands the immediate and unconditional release of the Russian crew members and all other foreign nationals that may be held hostage by UNITA in Angola, and demands also information on the fate of the Angolan passengers. It stresses that UNITA and its leader Mr. Jonas Savimbi carry full responsibility for their security.
"The Security Council calls upon the Government of Angola and all other concerned parties to cooperate in obtaining the release of the Russian crew members as well as in ascertaining the fate of passengers and crew members of other commercial aircraft lost under suspicious circumstances over UNITA-controlled territory.
"The Security Council will remain actively seized of the matter."
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