Security Council press statement on Central African Republic

Following is the Security Council press statement on the Central African Republic delivered today by Council President Jean-Marc de La Sablière ( France):

The members of the Security Council heard a briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, General Lamine Cissé, and by a representative of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations on the situation in the Central African Republic.  They reiterated their full support for General Cissé and the personnel of the United Nations Peace-Building Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA).

The members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the increase of poverty in the country, the fragility of the economic recovery and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.  They invited the Central African authorities to continue their efforts to improve public finances and governance.  They urged their bilateral partners and international institutions to increase their support for the Central African authorities in those efforts, and to provide also all the necessary humanitarian assistance to this country.

The members of the Security Council called on the Central African authorities and all political parties to settle their disputes through peaceful means and dialogue, and to work for peace and national cohesion in full respect of human rights and rule of law.  They urged the Central African authorities to put an end to impunity by bringing to justice those responsible for violations of human rights.

The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern that the persisting violence in Darfur and the deterioration of relations between Chad and Sudan might further negatively affect the security and stability of the Central African Republic.  They strongly condemned the attack perpetrated by armed groups in Gordil on 26 June 2006.

The members of the Security Council stressed the importance of the implementation of the Tripoli Agreement of 8 February 2006 by its signatories, reiterated the respect of the territorial integrity of the Central African Republic and called on all States in the region to cooperate in ensuring regional stability.

The members of the Security Council invited the Central African authorities to expedite their efforts in restructuring the National Armed Forces.  They commended the efforts engaged by the Multinational Force of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (FOMUC) to support the National Armed Forces and welcomed the financial and material assistance provided to FOMUC by the European Union, France and Germany.

The members of the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to provide to them a report on the situation in the Central African Republic in October.

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For information media • not an official record