Security Council

5830^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council presidential statement condemns attacks against chad’s government,

Calls for deepened cooperation to halt attempt to seize power

Strongly condemning attacks against the Chadian Government by armed groups this past weekend, the Security Council today called on all States in the region to cooperate in putting an end to the activities of this group and “their attempt to seize power by force” in the central African country.

Through a statement read out by its February President, Ricardo Alberto Arias of Panama, the Council also welcomed the 2 February decisions by the African Union on Chad, particularly its decision to mandate the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Congo, to engage the Chadian parties with a view to ending the fighting and forging a lasting solution to the crisis.

The Council urged all regional States to abide fully by their obligations to respect and secure their common borders, particularly under the Tripoli Agreement of 2006, the Riyadh Agreement of May 2007 and the Sirte Agreement of October 2007.

The Council acted today after receiving a letter from the Permanent Representative of Chad, requesting the support of all States to “provide all aid and assistance needed to help it end this aggression”.

The meeting began at 10:43 a.m. and adjourned at 10:50 a.m.

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2008/3 reads as follows:

“The Security Council expresses its grave concern regarding the situation in Chad.

“The Security Council supports the decision of the African Union dated 2 February 2008 strongly condemning the attacks perpetrated by armed groups against the Chadian Government, demanding to put an immediate end to the violence and calling on all the countries of the region to respect the unity and territorial integrity of the Member States of the African Union.

“The Security Council in particular welcomes the decision by the African Union to mandate the Libyan Leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, to engage the Chadian parties with a view to ending the fighting and to initiate efforts aimed to seeking a lasting solution to the crisis.

“The Security Council strongly condemns these attacks and all attempts at destabilization by force, and recalls its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and political independence of Chad.

“The Security Council urges all States in the region to abide fully by the obligations they have entered into with regard to respect for and securing of their common border, in particular under the Tripoli Agreement of 8 February 2006, the Riyadh Agreement of 3 May 2007 and the Sirte Agreement of 25 October 2007.

“The Security Council calls upon the States of the region to deepen their cooperation with a view to putting an end to the activities of armed groups and their attempt to seize power by force.

“The Security Council calls upon Member States to provide support, in conformity with the United Nations Charter, as requested by the Government of Chad.

“The Security Council expresses its concern regarding the direct threat that the combats pose for the safety of the civilian population, including internally displaced persons and refugees.

“The Security Council reaffirms its full support for the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and the European Union force (EUFOR TCHAD/RCA), whose deployment in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic was authorized by resolution 1778 (2007), to contribute to the protection of vulnerable civilian populations and to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance.

“The Security Council expresses its concern over the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, UN personnel and European Union personnel and material deployed in Chad.  It underlines that all parties have a responsibility to ensure the protection of all these personnel and of the diplomatic personnel present in Chad.”

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For information media • not an official record