PRESS STATEMENT ON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

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PRESS STATEMENT ON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the press statement given today by Security Council President, Moctar Ouane (Mali):

Council members heard today a statement by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Sir Kieran Prendergast, on the situation in the Central African Republic and the activities of the United Nations Peace-Building Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA).

Council members took note of the conclusions of the recent summits of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), respectively, at Khartoum and Libreville.

Council members expressed their profound concern at the continuation of acts of violence and the intensification of internal tensions in the Central African Republic.

Council members reiterated the appeal for dialogue and appeasement that they had launched to the parties.

Council members expressed their concern at the gravity of the economic situation and urged the international community to mobilize in favour of the Central African Republic.  Council members called upon the Central African authorities to continue the reforms undertaken, particularly in the areas of relaunching the political dialogue, stabilizing public finances and restructuring the armed forces.  They welcomed the holding in Paris, on 20 December 2001, of a meeting of donors.  They encouraged donors to honour as soon as possible the commitments made at the meeting held in New York in May 2000.

Council members reaffirmed their support for the efforts of the Representative of the Secretary-General in the Central African Republic.

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