SECRETARY-GENERAL CONFIDENT ABOUT TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY TO UNITED NATIONS MISSION

IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND CHAD FROM EUROPEAN UNION FORCE

The following statement was issued yesterday, 15 March, by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Today at midnight local time, the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) took over the military and security responsibilities of the European Union Force (EUFOR), in accordance with Security Council resolution 1861 of 14 January 2009.  The event was marked by a ceremony in Abéché attended by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy.

The Secretary-General commends EUFOR for the important role it has played over the past year in enhancing security for internally displaced persons, refugees and other vulnerable groups in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic.  As MINURCAT assumes its new responsibilities, the Secretary-General is confident that the force will build upon and strengthen EUFOR’s military achievements while continuing to execute the full range of its mandated tasks, including to contribute to the promotion of human rights and the rule of law and to support the development of the Chadian community police (Détachement Intégré de Sécurité) deployed in eastern Chad.

The Secretary-General is grateful for the commitments to the United Nations force received from several EUFOR contributors and new troop-contributing countries.  He encourages Member States to continue to fill remaining gaps, including military aviation assets, to ensure that MINURCAT is adequately equipped to fulfil its mandate.

In order to succeed, MINURCAT will need the active support of the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic.  The Secretary-General is grateful to both Governments for their cooperation during the transition period and looks forward to working with them in the implementation of MINURCAT’s mandate.

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For information media • not an official record