PRESS STATEMENT ON SOMALIA BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s press statement on Somalia by Security Council President Inocencio F. Arias (Spain):

Members of the Security Council heard an update from the Secretariat at informal consultations on 16 July on the developments in Somalia since the publication of the report of the Secretary-General of 10 June (document S/2003/636).

Members of the Council reaffirmed their commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the conflict in Somalia, and their respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of the country, consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

Members of the Council reiterated their firm support for the ongoing Somali National Reconciliation Conference at Mbagathi under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and hosted by Kenya, took note of the recent progress made, encouraged the parties to pursue sincerely their efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and reconciliation, and expressed the hope that the Conference would come to a successful conclusion in the near future.

Members of the Council noted with appreciation the efforts made by the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee in the preparation of its monitoring of the implementation of the ‘Eldoret Declaration’ and the work done by the African Union and IGAD fact-finding Mission to Somalia.

Members of the Council called on all States and other actors to comply scrupulously with the arms embargo established by resolution 733 (1992) and cooperate fully with the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1474 (2003) in the discharge of its mandate.

Members of the Council expressed their concern on the humanitarian situation in Somalia, urged the Somali parties to assure and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and called on Member States to respond urgently and generously to the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for 2003.

Members of the Council expressed their strong support for Bethuel Kiplagat, the Kenyan Special Envoy and lead IGAD mediator, and Winston Tubman, the representative of the Secretary-General, for their work in support of the Somali peace process. 

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