SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS REGIONAL RESPONSE TO SOLOMON ISLANDS CRISIS

SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS REGIONAL RESPONSE TO SOLOMON ISLANDS CRISIS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General commends the countries of the Pacific Islands Forum for the collective action to support the Government and people of the Solomon Islands in their quest for the restoration of law and order and stability.  He has taken note of the leadership exerted by Australia and New Zealand, in close partnership with other countries in the region, in response to the request for assistance from the Government of the Solomon Islands.  The Secretary-General recognizes the particular importance of the unanimous support for this concerted regional initiative undertaken within the framework of the Forum’s Biketawa Declaration.

The Secretary-General hopes that the prompt restoration of normalcy in the Solomon Islands will quickly lead to the regaining of national harmony and facilitate a peace-building process.  He wishes to emphasize that the United Nations system is fully prepared to contribute actively to such a process.

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