S/PV.2974 Security Council

The next speaker is the representative of Nigeria. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. GA?&#$J (Nigeria): I wish to thank you, Sir, and the other members of the Security Council for giving me this opportunity to make a few comments on the proposed statement by the President of the Security Council on the tragic situation in Liberia. I speak today as the alternate Chairman of the group of Ambassadors of countries members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) here at the United Nations. We are deeply gratified that the international community has decided to put itself on record in support of the process of restoring peace, security and stability to the war-torn country of Liberia. This is not the time to revisit the evsnta that led to the tragic civil war in Liberia. It is certainly not the time to apportion blame. The leaders of the Economic Cosanunity of West African States decided they had to respond collectively to the cries of women and children and of other victims of the sad conflict in Liberia. This they did by authorising and supporting the operations of the ECOWAS Cease-fire Xonitoring Group (ECOMOG;). SCOUOG'a mandate is not to take sides, but to reconcile the sides, to rentore peace and to create an atmosphere conducive to the resumption of free political activity and, eventually, democratic elections. (Mr. Gambari. Nigtia) The leaders of the sub-region worked hard for the establishment of a cease-fire, and all the parties to the conflict have in fact agreed to respect that cease-f ire. It is important that the Security Council urge them to continue to respect that cease-f ire. ECOWAS should be commended for acting in ways that promote the principles of the United Nations Charter by stepping in to prevent the situation in Liberia from degenerating into a situation likely to constitute a real threat to international peace and security. Moreover. by acting to restore peace and stability in Liberia with the active support of the people of Liberia ECOMOG is already helping build a basis for the exercise of the most basic right of the people of Liberia, the right to life. Nigeria commends the draft atatemeLc on Liberia which is to be issued on behalf of tbe Security Council. My country wishes also to cosanend the Secretary-General for his tireless efforts in organising humanitarian assistance to the sovereign people of Liberia. We call on the international community not only to intensify humanitarian support for Liberia and for the hundreds of thousand8 of refugees inside Liberia and in neighbouring African States, but also to provide financial and logistic support for ECOUOG so it can complete its mission at the earliest possible time. That mission is to restore peace, normalcy and stability to a sister West African State. That mission is a noble one endorsed by all the leader8 of the West African sub-region as well as by the Organisation of African Unity. m (interpretation from Prench)r Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorised to aake the following statement on behalf of the Council: (ThePreaident) "The members of the Security Council took note of the final communiqui of the first extraordinary session of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued in Bamako, Mali, on 28 November 1990. "The members of the Security Council conxnend the efforts made by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to promote peace and normalcy in Liberia. "The members of the Security Council call upon the parties to the conflict in Liberia to continue to respect the cease-fire agreement which they have signed and to co-operate fully with the ECOWAS to restore peace and normalcy in Liberia. "The members of the Security Council express appreciation to the Member States, the Secretary-General and humanitarian organisations for the humanitarian assistance to Liberia and call Por additional assistance. In this connection the Council welcome6 the resumption of the United Nations emergency programme in Liberia following the acceptance of a general cease-fire. "The members of the Security Council support the appeal launched by the ECOWAS Summit to the international connunity for increased humanitarian assistance to the people of Liberia". The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meetioa rose at 6.40 ~.a.