PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

During its work this month and for the next six months, the Security Council would be talking a lot about Africa, and most particularly about the need to guarantee stability in West Africa, Council President Jean-Marc de La Sablière (France) said at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

[Prior to outlining the Security Council programme under the March French Presidency, he made two press statements regarding the attacks on Shia Muslims marking Ashura in Iraq and continuing tension in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, issued separately as Press Releases SC/8017 and SC/8018, respectively.]

He said that, following the Council’s adoption of a resolution on Côte d’Ivoire several days ago, members would study the ongoing establishment of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), as well as the renewal of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).  While the latter was slated to end in December this year, the fragility of the situation in West Africa was a reason to remain vigilant, to prepare carefully for the Mission’s withdrawal and to determine the level of the United Nations presence that would remain necessary after December 2004.

The publication of the Secretariat’s report on cross-border problems in the subregion was an excellent opportunity to organize a public meeting on 25 March, he said.  Invitees would include representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), concerned agencies and major donors in order to encourage a concerted approach and synergies in tackling such problems as refugees, arms trafficking, child soldiers and mercenaries.  It was hoped that the discussions would result in a presidential statement that would propose the policy to be pursued, and particularly specific actions to be adopted.

He said the Council would also have an opportunity to focus once again on Central African issues.  A report on Burundi was expected from the Secretariat, which had dispatched a multidimensional mission to consider the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping operation in that country.

In the second week of March, he said, the Council would examine the Secretary-General’s report on Ethiopia and Eritrea.  The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was set to expire in a difficult context as the Special Envoy recently appointed to renew the dialogue between the two countries had not been received by one of the parties.  The Council would have to decide what approach to take.

Regarding the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), he said the Council would hold a public debate on 4 March dealing with a recent report by that body’s Spanish presidency aimed at revitalizing its structure and working methods.  More than two years after 11 September 2001 and the adoption of Council resolution 1373 (2001), the time had come to better evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken by States to fight terrorism, consolidate gains and strengthen CTC expertise, enabling it to better pursue its mandate.  A new resolution should flesh out reform of that body, based on the Spanish report.

The Council would also examine the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan, as it did each month, he said.  The mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), established in March 2003, was set to expire at a time when a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General had just been appointed and when his predecessor, Lakdhar Brahimi, had just presented in his January report the challenges to be met in that country.  The security situation, and especially the preparations for elections, would be the Council’s focus on the eve of the conference bringing together the international donor community in Berlin.

Tomorrow, he said, the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina would present his latest report on the implementation of the peace agreement between the parties and the economic and social progress achieved in that country.

Recalling the Council’s adoption on Sunday evening of resolution 1529 (2004), authorizing the deployment of an interim multilateral force in Haiti for a three-month period, he said a subsequent resolution was expected.  It would call on the Secretary-General to present to the Council recommendations on a United Nations stabilization force to follow up the interim multilateral force.  Two delegations had requested a public meeting on Haiti, he added.

He said Council experts were currently discussing several draft resolutions regarding the CTC, children in armed conflict and on the establishment of a monitoring mechanism for the arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Asked why there had been no briefing on Iraq by the representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States, the Council President replied that Emyr Jones Parry had submitted a report on that topic a few days ago.  Consultations would be held and he would update Council members.  There was good coordination and a desire to work together within the Council on that item, he emphasized.

Another correspondent asked whether any debate was envisaged on weapons of mass destruction and non-State actors.

Mr. de La Sablière responded by saying that consultations on such a resolution were under way and that he was not in a position to say what progress had been made.

Another journalist asked how the Council assessed today’s attacks in Iraq with respect to possible United Nations action in the country.

In response, the Council President said that the question was always one of security.  While all the members wanted the United Nations to play a more important role, there were differences as to what the Organization could do now and what it might be able to do after 30 June, when there would be a transfer of sovereignty.  If the Iraqis could have a transition that included all parties opposing violence, security would improve.  However, there was no miracle solution.

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