SECURITY COUNCIL STRONGLY CONDEMNS ATTACKS BY ARMED GROUPS ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND HUMANITARIAN PERSONNEL IN SOMALIA

Press Release
SC/6884

SECURITY COUNCIL STRONGLY CONDEMNS ATTACKS BY ARMED GROUPS ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND HUMANITARIAN PERSONNEL IN SOMALIA

Presidential Statement Strongly Urges Somali Factions To Respect International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law

The Security Council this afternoon strongly condemned attacks by armed groups on innocent civilians and all humanitarian personnel in Somalia. It strongly urged the Somali factions to respect international humanitarian and human rights law, to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of all humanitarian personnel and to faciliate the delivery of humanitarian relief to all those in need.

In a statement read out by its President, Jean-David Levitte (France), the Council expressed its deep concern at the ongoing abuse of human rights and grave deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Somalia, which has led to death, displacement and the outbreak of diseases among the civilian population. In that regard, it expressed appreciation to the efforts of all United Nations agencies, other organizations and individuals carrying out humanitarian activities in Somalia.

The Council strongly urged representatives of all social and political forces of Somali society to participate actively and in a constructive spirit in the work of the Somali National Peace and Reconciliation Conference in Djibouti. In that context, it urged the warlords and faction leaders to desist from obstructing and undermining efforts to achieve peace. The Council expressed its readiness to consider taking appropriate steps regarding the warlords and faction leaders who engage in such activities and urged all States to stop providing those individuals with the means to carry on their destructive activities.

Further by the statement, the Security Council reminded all States of their obligation to comply with the measures imposed by resolution 733 (1992) and urged them to take all necessary steps to ensure full implementation and enforcement of the arms embargo. The Council further urged all States, the United Nations and other international organizations and entities to report to the Committee established by resolution 751 (1992) information on possible violations of the embargo.

Reiterating that the full responsibility for achieving national reconciliation and peace rested with the Somali people themselves, the Council welcomed and fully supported the initiative of the President of Djibouti aimed at

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restoring peace and stability in Somalia. To that end, it urged States and international organizations, in a position to do so, to give those efforts political support and to provide financial and technical assistance.

The meeting, which was called to order at 1:24 p.m., was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

Text of Presidential Statement

The full text of the presidential statement, which will be issued as document S/PRST/200/22, reads as follows:

"The Security Council reaffirms its commitments to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia, consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, bearing in mind respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia. It reiterates that full responsibility for achieving national reconciliation and peace rests with the Somali people themselves.

The Security Council expresses its full support for the efforts exerted by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to find a political solution to the crisis in Somalia. It welcomes and fully supports the initiative of the President of Djibouti aimed at restoring peace and stability in Somalia and urges States and international organizations, in a position to do so, to give these efforts political support and to provide financial and technical assistance to the Government of Djibouti to this end.

The Security Council expresses its deep concern at the ongoing abuse of human rights and grave deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Somalia, which has led to death, displacement and the outbreak of diseases among the civilian population, particularly children and other vulnerable groups. It expresses appreciation to the efforts of all United Nations agencies, other organizations and individuals carrying out humanitarian activities in Somalia. The Council strongly condemns attacks by armed groups on innocent civilians and all international humanitarian personnel. It strongly urges the Somali factions to respect international humanitarian and human rights law, to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of all humanitarian personnel and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian relief to all those in need.

The Security Council underlines the importance of the widest participation of the representatives of all parts of Somali Society in an effort to rehabilitate Somalia. The Council strongly urges representatives of all social and political forces of Somali society to participate actively and in a constructive spirit in the work of the Somali National Peace and Reconciliation Conference in Djibouti. In this urges the warlords and faction leaders to desist from obstructing and undermining efforts to achieve peace.

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The Council expresses its readiness to consider taking appropriate steps regarding the warlords and faction leaders who engage in such activities. It also urges all States to stop providing these individuals with the means to carry on their destructive activities.

The Security Council reminds all States of their obligation to comply with the measures imposed by resolution 733 (1992) and urges them to take all necessary steps to ensure full implementation and enforcement of the arms embargo. The Security Council further urges all States, the United Nations and other international organizations and entities to report to the Committee established by resolution 751 (1992) information on possible violations of the arms embargo."

The Security Council remains seized of the matter.

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