Security Council

6102^nd Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT SEEKS SMOOTH TRANSITION TO PROPOSED

UN INTEGRATED PEACEBUILDING OFFICE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Following on the Secretary-General’s recent proposal to establish a United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic, the Security Council today noted with satisfaction the series of tasks it would perform and asked the Secretary-General to ensure its smooth transition from the United Nations Peacebuilding Office in the country as soon as possible, including through the early deployment of a new Special Representative and Deputy Special Representative.

Given the upsurge in violence in the country since the beginning of 2009, the Council demanded, in a statement read out by Claude Heller ( Mexico), its President for April, that all armed groups which had not done so, particularly those recently operating in northern Central African Republic, cease the violence immediately.  It called on all parties to respect and implement prior commitments to peace.

The Council noted that the new Integrated Peacebuilding Office, proposed initially to last until the end of 2009, would assist national and local efforts to implement the outcomes of the inclusive political dialogue held in Bangui from 8 to 20 December 2008, which had the Council’s full support as an effective framework to foster national reconciliation and stability in the country, and assist in the successful completion of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and reform of security-sector institutions, among other tasks.

In that connection, the Council requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the Integrated Office helped ensure that child protection was properly addressed in implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, including by supporting the monitoring and reporting mechanism established under resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005).

By a related provision of the text, the Council called on all armed groups to cease immediately the recruitment and use of children and to release all children associated with them.  It stressed the “urgency and imperative necessity” of carrying out the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, calling on all parties in the country to work with determination towards that goal.

Noting also with satisfaction the Integrated Office’s task of coordinating closely with the Peacebuilding Commission, the Council welcomed that body’s support to the Central African Republic and called on the donor community to work with the Commission to identify sectors that were critical for long-term stability and development, and intensify their support in those sectors.

Called to order at 12 p.m., the meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2009/5 reads as follows:

“The Security Council welcomes the recent progress towards implementing the recommendations of the inclusive political dialogue, held in Bangui from 8 to 20 December 2008.  It reiterates its full support for this process, as an effective framework to foster national reconciliation and stability in the Central African Republic.  The Council calls on all parties to sustain the momentum created by the dialogue and the spirit of compromise and cooperation that enabled its successful holding.

“The Security Council demands that all armed groups which have not yet done so, particularly those recently operating in the northern Central African Republic, cease violence immediately.  It calls on all parties to respect and implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Libreville on 21 June 2008 and their earlier commitments contained in the Sirte Agreement of February 2007 and the Birao Agreement of April 2007.  It invites countries in the region to support efforts to bring all groups into the peace process.

“The Security Council calls on all armed groups to immediately cease the recruitment and use of children and release all children associated with them.  The Council calls on all parties, as a matter of priority, to develop and implement, in close collaboration with the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic, action plans in the framework of Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005).

“The Security Council stresses the urgency and imperative necessity of carrying out the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process (DDR).  It calls on all parties in the Central African Republic to work with determination to that end.  The Council welcomes the pledge made by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa on 30 January to contribute to fund the DDR process, and calls on the international community to provide timely and adequate support to the process.

“The Security Council calls on the Government of the Central African Republic and all political stakeholders to ensure the timely, effective and transparent preparation for the 2009 and 2010 municipal, legislative and presidential elections.

“The Security Council welcomes the recommendation by the Secretary-General, in his letter dated 3 March 2009 (S/2009/128), to establish a United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic to succeed the current United Nations peacebuilding office.  It notes with satisfaction that the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office will perform the following tasks:

(a)   To assist national and local efforts in implementing the dialogue outcomes, in particular through support for governance reforms and electoral processes;

(b)   To assist in the successful completion of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and the reform of security sector institutions, and support activities to promote the rule of law;

(c)   To support efforts to restore State authority in the provinces;

(d)   To support efforts to enhance national human rights capacity and promote respect for human rights and the rule of law, justice and accountability;

(e)   To closely coordinate with, and support the work of, the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as the implementation of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding and projects supported through the Peacebuilding Fund;

(f)   To exchange information and analysis with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) on emerging threats to peace and security in the region.

“It also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the integrated office undertakes the following additional task:

(g)   To help ensure that child protection is properly addressed in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the DDR process, including by supporting the monitoring and reporting mechanism established according to resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005).

“The Council requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the smooth transition to the new integrated office take place as soon as possible, including through the early deployment of the new Special Representative and Deputy.  The Council further requests the Secretary-General to inform it in his next report on the structure and strength of the new office, bearing in mind that resources for special political missions are limited.

“The Security Council welcomes the support provided by the Peacebuilding Commission to the Central African Republic, looks forward to the finalization of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding, and calls on the donor community to work with the Commission to identify sectors that are critical for long-term stability and development in the Central African Republic and to intensify their support in those sectors.”

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For information media • not an official record