SECRETARY-GENERAL LOOKS FORWARD TO CONVENING OF PROPOSED SUMMIT OF LEADERS OF GUINEA, LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE

SECRETARY-GENERAL LOOKS FORWARD TO CONVENING OF PROPOSED SUMMIT

OF LEADERS OF GUINEA, LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE

Following is the text of a statement issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has been following with interest the recent developments within the Mano River Union (MRU) and the progress made so far by the Governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in their efforts to restore confidence and promote stability in the sub-region.  In this regard, he looks forward to the convening of the proposed summit of heads of State of the three countries as another milestone towards restoring good neighbourliness among them.

The Secretary-General hopes that the spirit of frank and constructive dialogue that characterized the meetings of the Joint Security Committee and of Foreign Ministers will eventually be applied to addressing some of the root causes of the problems affecting the MRU countries.

The Secretary-General wishes to reiterate the commitment of the United Nations to support, in whatever ways it can, the MRU member States in their common efforts to create the necessary conditions for enhancing security and disseminating a culture of peace in the sub-region.

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