PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING

Press Briefing

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING

At a Headquarters press briefing today, Bernard Miyet, Under-Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, said that the Secretary-General’s report on the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) spoke for itself. Among other things, the report, which was released today, informed the Security Council that there had been little progress, if any, in the implementation of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement. The ceasefire had been consistently violated in the intensified fighting between government and Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF) forces in the northern Equateur province.

Mr. Miyet said that, in terms of ceasefire violations, it was still a very difficult period. There were more and more reports of the building up of forces, particularly in the Equateur province regions, both on the side of the Government and the Mouvement de Liberation du Congo (MLC), as well as Ugandan forces. There were also skirmishes and difficulties in the Kivus between the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie (RCD) and Rwandan Forces and militias.

The situation was not at all stabilized, he continued. There was uncertainty after the end of the in-fighting between the Ugandans and Rwandans in Kisangani. Another problem was that inter-Congolese facilitation and dialogue was completely stalled. It was clear that, without any progress on the political side, there could be no expectations of developments on the military and peacekeeping sides.

It would be a risk to deploy a mission when there were no meaningful or serious prospects of a breakthrough on the political side, he said. Even though facilitation was not under the direct responsibility of the United Nations, it was important to be active in that area. There were more and more speeches and statements from the Democratic Republic of the Congo side that the Lusaka Agreement might have to be reviewed.

Mr. Miyet said that, despite the positive move of President Laurent Kabila to give a green light to the mission, there were still several difficulties in terms of freedom of movement. Those difficulties were reinforced by problems of security, such as the situation in Bunya, where there had been in-fighting between the rebels themselves. With the fighting in the Equateur region, it was clear that the security of the United Nations military observers was also at stake. The conditions were simply not there to deploy a mission under Phase Two, he said.

A correspondent asked if concerned contributing countries been asked to reconsider and deploy troops to Sierra Leone, as opposed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mr. Miyet said they had not considered that option and were not working in terms of moving troops from one spot to another. With regard to Sierra Leone, the United Nations was approaching all possible contributing countries, in order to replace the departing Indian troops.

Asked if there would be enough troops, in light of the recent Indian defection, he said that they had only been informed of the Indian decision a few days ago and they were now in the process of establishing a flexible timetable to facilitate a smooth transition. He, along with members of the Security Council,

Miyet Press Briefing - 2 - 22 September 2000

had been approaching a series of countries and there were some positive signs. The Indian decision was, however, interfering with the second step of 20,500. However, no decision would be taken until the end of October.

Mr. Miyet was asked whether any North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) country would be involved in the mission. He said that it was difficult to say at this point. The events in Sierra Leone were still fresh in everyone's memory. It was clear that in the future, developing and powerful States needed to show solidarity and responsibility in risky spots.

A correspondent asked what steps had been taken to deal with the problem of the Mission in Sierra Leone and whether there had been any real change, except a change in command of the forces. Mr. Miyet responded that when bringing people together from different countries, with different cultures, training and equipment, achieving harmony was not easy. Tensions could rise as the result of personal problems and the interaction with different chains of command. The United Nations was doing its utmost to facilitate the full equipment of the existing troops, as there were still shortages for some contingents. Many countries were being approached to help in the supply of equipment. Missions needed to react rapidly and flexibly.

They were trying to achieve the necessary change of morale and encourage a new spirit in the Mission, he added. The Indian troops were among the best- trained, equipped and motivated troops in Sierra Leone and their departure will be a loss to the mission. They would have to be replaced with troops of the same capacity, morale and equipment.

A correspondent asked whether there was any foundation to the allegation by Major General Vijay Jetley that the Nigerians, particularly the Nigerian army, had been involved in diamond smuggling. Mr. Miyet said that the issue would be discussed with Major General Jetley. It was important to remember that those allegations had been made during a period of high tensions within the Mission. The events had put psychological pressure on everyone. However, so far there was no proof for the allegations.

The correspondent continued by saying that, as far as he had heard, the Nigerian involvement in diamond smuggling was an open secret in Sierra Leone and brought into question the wisdom in having Nigerian troops representing the bulk of the United Nations Mission. Mr. Miyet said that it was important that all participants in a mission cooperate in a neutral, impartial and honest manner.

When asked whether the Nigerians had a shot at getting the position of top commander, he explained that, in keeping with the universality of the United Nations, there would be no geographical balance if the top commander and the special representative were both from Nigeria. He continued by saying that a “shake-up” was needed. Many people had been burned by the tough crisis in Sierra Leone. A new sense of solidarity, cohesiveness and team spirit had to be at the heart of the shake-up.

When asked whether the United Kingdom had confirmed intentions to send in troops in blue helmets or independently, he said that all countries had been approached. The more support there was from developed countries, the better it would be for the future of United Nations peacekeeping missions.

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