SOO MAAL Posted March 8, 2005 7 March 2005 – Calling on United Nations Member States to support war-battered Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, the Security Council today said it would welcome an incrementally expanding role for the world body in the Horn of Africa country. The Government has been trying to relocate from Nairobi, Kenya, to a home country still suffering from widespread insecurity. "The Security Council welcomes the progress made in the Somali national reconciliation process, in particular the Transitional Federal Government's ongoing relocation efforts, expects further progress in this regard and stresses the need for the international community to provide strong political, financial and capacity-building support for these efforts," the Council President for March, Ambassador Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg of Brazil, read from a consensus statement. The Council recognized the African Union's (AU) readiness to play an important role in a future peace support mission, but such a mission "must be carefully considered and planned and would require the support of the Somali people," the statement said. It urged all factions and militia leaders to cease hostilities and, together with the Transitional Federal Government, to start immediate negotiations towards a comprehensive and verifiable ceasefire agreement leading to final disarmament. The Council also welcomed the UN's offer to provide advice in this regard, Mr. Sardenberg said. More resources were needed for reconstruction, especially for those efforts coordinated by UN agencies, he added. Meanwhile, improving the humanitarian situation was essential to forging peace and reconciliation, and ensuring access to Somalis in need and guaranteeing the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers was an immediate priority and obligation of the Government, he said as the Council congratulated the UN Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS) on its achievements. UNPOS chief Winston Tubman told a news conference earlier Monday, before briefing the Council, that an expanded UN presence in the Horn of Africa country could help Somalis implement their agreements and coordinate regional and international backing for the peace process. The UN also could chair a Coordination and Monitoring Committee, as well as play a leading political role in the peace building that is still needed, he said. "The capital, Mogadishu, is particularly insecure. We cannot say that either peace or reconciliation has been achieved, or that the fighting inside Somalia has ceased. At the same time, a fledgling peace process has pointed to a way out of the morass. We have worked hard to support that process," Mr. Tubman said. Calling attention "to a very dramatic moment taking place in Somalia today," he said the Government's leaders had visited Somalia, "testing the waters." "They were warmly received by the Somali people while on a brief tour last week, conceived as part of a phased-in return," he said. According to a recent report on the country by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mr. Tubman said, the UN was willing to offer advice on organizing immediate negotiations for a comprehensive ceasefire, was calling for the strengthening of the arms embargo and was prepared to support the AU in planning a protection force. On that last aspect of national security, he added, "Although some Somalis have expressed concerns and reservations, we hope their concerns can be addressed and their reservations overcome." The prevailing insecurity was preventing the UN from implementing post-tsunami programmes in large areas of the country. "With better security, we can reach many more people in need," he said. Mr. Tubman said the briefing was his last because he was resigning from the UN to become politically active in his own country, Liberia. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SOO MAAL Posted March 8, 2005 UN SC presidential statement welcomes progress in Somali National Reconciliation, notes need for expanded UN presenceConcurs with Secretary-General Enhanced UN Role Must Be Incremental, Based on Discussions with Transitional Government SC/8329 Security Council 5135th Meeting (PM) The Security Council, reaffirming its commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement in Somalia, welcomed progress made in the Somali national reconciliation process, and took note of the need to expand the United Nations presence in that country, as proposed by the Secretary-General in his latest report. In a statement read out by Council President Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg (Brazil), the Council welcomed the efforts of the United Nations Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS) and its leading role in coordinating support for the Transitional Federal Government to implement the agreements reached at the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and establish peace and stability in Somalia. It concurred with the Secretary-General that a further enhanced role for the Organization must be incremental and be based on the outcome of discussions with the Transitional Government. Commending the efforts of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) in support of the Transitional Government, the Council also recognized the African Union’s readiness to play an important role in a future peace support mission in Somalia. Such a mission must be carefully planned and would require the support of the Somali people. In his latest report to the Council (document S/2005/89), the Secretary-General notes that the IGAD process has produced a power-sharing arrangement in that country for a transitional period that stretches for five years. While this had clearly been the most inclusive peace process ever, involving all clans and most major faction leaders, it cannot be said that either peace or reconciliation has been achieved or that fighting inside Somalia has ceased. An enhanced role for the United Nations, he continues, would include assisting the continuous dialogue among Somali parties for reconciliation; assisting in the effort to address the issue of “Somalilandâ€; coordinating support for the peace process with Somalia’s neighbours and other international partners; and chairing the Coordination and Monitoring Committee, as well as playing a leading political role in peace-building activities. Also through today’s statement, the Council urged all Somali faction and militia leaders to cease hostilities and encouraged them and the Transitional Government to enter into immediate negotiations for a comprehensive and verifiable ceasefire agreement leading to final disarmament. The meeting began at 4:53 p.m. and ended at 5 p.m. Presidential Statement The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2005/11 reads, as follows: “The Security Council reaffirms all its previous decisions concerning the situation in Somalia, in particular the statement by its President (S/PRST/2004/43) dated 19 November 2004. “The Security Council welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 18 February 2005 (S/2005/89), reaffirms its commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia, and its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia, consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. “The Security Council welcomes the progress made in the Somali national reconciliation process, in particular the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)’s ongoing relocation efforts, expects further progress in this regard and stresses the need for the international community to provide strong political, financial and capacity-building support for these efforts. “The Security Council commends the efforts of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in support of the TFG. The Security Council reiterates its support for the African Union’s efforts in assisting the process of transition in Somalia. The Security Council recognizes the African Union’s readiness to play an important role in a future peace support mission in Somalia. Such a mission must be carefully considered and planned and would require the support of the Somali people. “The Security Council urges all Somali factions and militia leaders to cease hostilities and encourages them and the TFG to enter into immediate negotiations for a comprehensive and verifiable ceasefire agreement leading to final disarmament and welcomes the willingness of the United Nations to provide advice in this regard. “The Security Council expresses its gratitude to all those donors who have supported the peace process in Somalia and encourages donor countries, regional and subregional organizations to contribute to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Somalia, in particular through efforts coordinated by UN agencies. “The Security Council welcomes the establishment of the Coordination and Monitoring Committee (CMC), chaired jointly by the Prime Minister of the TFG and the United Nations, through which donor countries and regional and subregional organizations can provide support to the efforts of the TFG. “The Security Council stresses that improving the humanitarian situation is an essential component of support for the peace and reconciliation process. The Security Council strongly believes that ensuring humanitarian access to all Somalis in need and providing guarantees for the safety and security of aid workers is an immediate priority and obligation of the TFG. “The Security Council welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS) and its leading role in coordinating support for the TFG to implement the agreements reached at the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and establish peace and stability in Somalia. The Security Council takes note of the need to expand the United Nations’ presence as proposed in the report of the Secretary-General of 18 February 2005 (S/2005/89). The Security Council concurs with the Secretary General that a further enhanced role for the Organization in Somalia must be incremental, and should be based on the outcome of discussions with the TFG. “The Security Council reaffirms its full support for the peace process in Somalia and the commitment of the United Nations to assist the regional and subregional efforts in this regard.†Background Before the Council was the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Somalia (document S/2005/89) dated 18 February 2005 and covering the period since his last report of 8 October 2004 (documents S/2004804. He notes that the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) process has produced a power-sharing arrangement in that country for a transitional period that stretches for five years. While this had clearly been the most inclusive peace process ever, involving all clans and most major faction leaders, it cannot be said that either peace or reconciliation has been achieved or that fighting inside Somalia has ceased. He recalls that shortly after his election, President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed sought a large number of peacekeepers from the African Union to help the Transitional Federal Government relocate to Somalia. Since then, a consensus had emerged that the most feasible option might be a protection force fielded by the African Union. In consultation with the African Union, the United Nations is prepared to support the African Union in the planning of a protection force. According to the report, the Secretary-General hopes that training programmes envisaged for foreign troops and Somali security forces would include a humanitarian and human rights component. In the area of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, the United Nations will continue to support the efforts and build on the experience of United Nations agencies already involved in such programmes. The deployment of any foreign military forces will require an exemption from the arms embargo on Somalia, the report says. This aspect notwithstanding, greater efforts should be made to enforce the embargo. The recent report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia made it clear that extensive breaches of the embargo prevail and weapons and explosives continue to flow into the country. The enforcement of the embargo, with improved monitoring capacity and the establishment of enforcement measures, would considerably enhance overall security. Stabilizing the humanitarian situation is an essential component of support for the peace and reconciliation process, the report emphasizes. The success of the new Government and the reconciliation process will depend not only on support from the international community, but also on the contribution of the Somali population at large, including civil society organizations. An immediate priority and obligation of the Transitional Federal Government should be to ensure humanitarian access to all Somalis in need and to guarantee the safety and security of aid workers. Thanking donors who are responding to the immediate needs of the peace process, the Secretary-General notes that, aside from the earlier contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Peace-building in Somalia, Norway took the lead by providing $2 million from its 2004 budget to allow the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to meet some of the urgent needs of the Offices of the President and Prime Minister, as well as 30 ministries. Ongoing efforts by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations agencies to reach out to non-traditional donors should be accelerated. In particular, the Arab League countries, which are already contributing to Somalia, could do more. The report states that if the Economic and Social Council were to establish an ad hoc advisory group on Somalia to examine the country’s humanitarian and economic needs, review relevant assistance programmes and prepare recommendations for Somalia’s rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, such a group would have an important role to play in supporting the peace process. In his previous report, the Secretary-General pointed out the likelihood that progress in the Somali peace process would call for an expanded United Nations political presence to assist the Somali parties in implementing their agreement. At the same time, any enhanced role for the Organization must be incremental and based on the outcome of discussions with the new Government. According to the report, such a role would include assisting the continuous dialogue among Somali parties for reconciliation; assisting in the effort to address the issue of “Somalilandâ€; coordinating support for the peace process with Somalia’s neighbours and other international partners; and chairing the Coordination and Monitoring Committee, as well as playing a leading political role in peace-building activities. The Secretary-General intends to appoint a Special Representative, at the Assistant Secretary-General level, to lead the expanded United Nations role with the assistance of an augmented staff at the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, including a deputy. The report also covers developments inside Somalia, including the formation of the Transitional Federal Government; and activities of the United Nations and the international community. The section on the humanitarian situation covers United Nations system operations activities to promote peace, including sub-sections on child protection, education, health, governance, livelihoods, water and environmental sanitation, HIV/AIDS, as well as internally displaced persons and refugees. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SOO MAAL Posted March 8, 2005 UN presses Somali warlords to agree to cease-fire 07 Mar 2005 23:48:35 GMT Source: Reuters By Irwin Arieff UNITED NATIONS, March 7 (Reuters) - Somalia's warlords must stop fighting among themselves and agree to a cease-fire as a first step toward peace and security in the lawless northeast African nation, the Security Council said on Monday. The 15-nation council, in a statement adopted unanimously, welcomed the progress made by Somalia's fledgling national government toward restoring central authority but said a comprehensive and verifiable cease-fire agreement was needed before feuding factions could start to disarm. A country of as many as 10 million people, Somalia has been carved up into fiefdoms run by rival warlords since 1991. The new government was formed in the safety of neighboring Kenya last year and is currently trying to establish itself inside the Horn of Africa country. Somalia's new President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Gedi, both of whom are still based in Nairobi, toured parts of Somalia in recent weeks to prepare for the return of their government, which hopes to begin disarming militias once it is ensconced inside the country. Winston Tubman, head of the U.N. political office for Somalia, told the council in a closed-door session before it adopted the statement that the security situation in Somalia remained precarious. Intermittent fighting continued, fueled by factional rivalries and extensive violations of a U.N. arms embargo, Tubman told reporters in a summary of his council briefing. The capital Mogadishu was particularly insecure, Tubman said. But the political process now under way at least pointed the way to a possible end to the crisis, he said. "I believe this new effort constitutes Somalia's best chance in many years to achieve peace and security. It is a process, however, that will need (international) support to succeed" as well as help from the Somali people, he said. The powerful earthquake and tsunami that devastated Indian Ocean coastlines on Dec. 26 killed as many as 300 people in Somalia and touched some 18,000 households. Recurrent drought is also a problem in the region. But international assistance for many needy victims cannot be delivered until aid workers are assured of better security, said Tubman, who is leaving his U.N. post to run for president in October elections in his native Liberia. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OG_Girl Posted March 8, 2005 Sorry, but what is so important about UN? Isn't UN itself who devided our land into 5 parties and still wants to force us on their own solution of our situation without considering our will ?!! When my people stop crying like babies for others' help whatever they call their older brother, their long lost mom,best friend, or whatever names they invated to call others for beggging them!! Salam Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
