SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Following is the text of a statement made to the press today by Security Council President Zhang Yishan (China):

Members of the Security Council were briefed by Assistant Secretary-General Tuliameni Kalomoh on the latest developments in the Central African Republic.

Members of the Security Council condemned the recent attempt to seize power by force.  They reiterated their support for the democratically elected authorities of the Central African Republic.  They called on all the States in the region to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Central African Republic.

Members of the Security Council stressed the need to implement without delay the steps decided at the Summit of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community in Libreville on 2 October 2002. They appealed for the prompt deployment to the Central African Republic of an effective and well equipped International Observation Force, as decided at the Summit and accepted the authorities of the Central African Republic.  They encouraged all Members States, in a position to do so, to provide financial, logistical and material support to the Member States participating in the Force.  They commend the President of Gabon for sending expeditiously a reconnaissance team, which arrived in Bangui on 7 November 2002.

Members of the Security Council encouraged the Central African Republic and Chad to continue their efforts to improve relations between them.

Members of the Security Council renewed their strong appreciation of the United Nations Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA) under the leadership of General Lamine Cissé. They expressed their willingness to consider mechanisms to strengthen BONUCA, in particular in areas such as human rights monitoring, restructuring of the Central African armed forces and the implementation of an effective arms-collection programme.

Members of the Security Council noted that the fundamental problems in the Central African Republic remain grounded in economic deprivation and beleaguered governance.  They urged the international community, development partners and relevant financial institutions to continue to work with the Government of the Central African Republic, to alleviate these problems.

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