Security Council press statement on somalia

 

The following Security Council press statement on Somalia was read out today by Council President Peter Burian ( Slovakia):

Members of the Security Council have received a letter from the Representative of the then Chairman of the African Union setting out the African Union’s intention to deploy a peace support mission to Somalia.

Members of the Security Council welcomed the African Union’s intention to establish such a mission in Somalia, and underlined the urgency of its deployment in order to help create the conditions for the withdrawal of all other foreign forces from Somalia and the lifting of emergency security measures currently in place.

Members of the Security Council stressed the need in Somalia for broad-based and representative institutions and an all-inclusive political process, as envisaged in the Transitional Federal Charter, in order to consolidate stability, peace and reconciliation in the country.

In this regard, members of the Council welcomed the announced intention of President Yusuf shortly to convene a National Reconciliation Congress to promote national reconciliation, and supported this initiative.

Members of the Security Council encouraged member States of the African Union to contribute to a peace support mission, called on the international community to provide assistance, and underlined their intention to review the mandate set out in Security Council resolution 1725 (2006).

Members of the Security Council welcomed the support that the United Nations Secretariat has so far provided to the African Union regarding the proposed mission and encouraged it to continue to provide as much support as possible within its capabilities.

Members of the Security Council supported the rapid deployment of a United Nations technical assessment mission with a view to making recommendations to the Security Council on future security needs in Somalia.

Members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Somalia, demanded that all parties in Somalia ensure complete and unhindered humanitarian access, and urged the international community to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Somalia.

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For information media • not an official record