PRESS STATEMENT ON CENTRALAFRICANREPUBLIC BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press on the Central African Republic by Security Council President César Mayoral (Argentina):

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing by Representative of the Secretary-General Lamine Cissé on the situation in the Central African Republic and the activities of the United Nations Peace-Building Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA).  They reiterated their full support for the action of General Cissé in this country.

Members of the Security Council noted with satisfaction the progress made until now by Central Africans in the transitional process that will allow the restoration of constitutional legality and rule of law.

Members of the Security Council encouraged the international partners of the Central African Republic to continue to support this process, in particular concerning the funding of the forthcoming elections.

Members of the Security Council took note of the difficulties due to the recent decision of the transitional constitutional court that excludes some candidates for the presidential elections.  They considered that the decision of General François Bozizé, Head of State, to accept three candidatures that have been excluded by the transitional constitutional court was encouraging.  They firmly invited General François Bozizé, Head of State, and all political actors to find rapidly an appropriate and consensual solution in order to save the electoral process and the Transition, which have required a lot of efforts.

Members of the Council recalled that the only way to ease the normal functioning of the republican institutions in accordance with the new constitution is to settle an appropriate environment for the organization of free, transparent and democratic elections.  All necessary steps must be taken in this regard. 

Members of the Security Council appealed to the international donor community to respond generously to the Consolidated Appeal Process launched by the United Nations on behalf of the Central African Republic in order to address its preoccupying humanitarian needs.

Members of the Security Council requested the Secretary General to inform them on any new developments of the situation in Central African Republic, and to assess this situation through his Representative, no later than the end of March 2005.

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