SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEASED BY AGREEMENT IN SIERRA LEONE
Press Release
SG/SM/5970
SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEASED BY AGREEMENT IN SIERRA LEONE
19960423 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Boutros Boutros-Ghali:The Secretary-General is extremely pleased to learn that an agreement has been reached today, 23 April, in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) for a "continued cessation of hostilities with a view to creating a climate of confidence conducive to the conclusion of a peace accord".
Closing two days of talks under the auspices of the United Nations and the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, a joint communiqué -- the "Yamoussoukro Communiqué" -- was signed by President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone, RUF leader Foday Sankoh and President Henri Konan Bédié of Côte d'Ivoire.
In the communique, the Government of Sierra Leone and RUF reaffirmed their commitment to a just and lasting peace in Sierra Leone and to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. To this end, they agreed to establish three joint working parties to deal with the following matters: a peace accord; encampment and disarmament of combatants; demobilization and resettlement of combatants. The joint parties will begin their work in Abidjan on 28 April and are to prepare draft agreements on those three issues, for consideration at a plenary meeting within two weeks of the Yamoussoukro Communiqué.
On this auspicious occasion, the Secretary-General wishes to express to the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, and in particular to President Henri Konan Bédié, his deep gratitude for their support to the mediation efforts of his Special Envoy, Berhanu Dinka, which contributed to the successful conclusion of these talks. He is hopeful that the agreement reached in Yamoussoukro will mark a new beginning for lasting peace in Sierra Leone.
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