S/PV.3278 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council deplores the recent upsurge in violence in Haiti, particularly the events of 11 and 12 September, when at least a dozen people were assassinated, including a prominent supporter of President Aristide during a church service. "The Council is deeply concerned at these developments as well as at the existence of organized armed civilian groups in the capital which are attempting to interfere with the new Constitutional Government’s proper assumption of its functions. "The Security Council considers it imperative that the Constitutional Government of Haiti assume control over the security forces of the country, and that those responsible for the activities of the organized armed civilian groups throughout the country, and particularly in Port-au-Prince, be held personally accountable for their actions and removed from their functions. The Council also urges the Haitian authorities to take immediate measures with a view to disarming these groups. "The Council strongly calls on the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, also in his capacity as signatory to the Governors Island Agreement, to carry out his responsibilities to the fullest by ensuring immediate compliance with the letter and the spirit of the Governors Island Agreement. "The Council will hold the Haitian military and security authorities personally responsible for the safety of all United Nations personnel in Haiti. "Unless there is a clear and immediate effort by the security forces to put an end to the present levels of violence and intimidation and unless the above requirements are met, the Security Council will have no alternative but to consider that the authorities responsible for public order in Haiti are not complying in good faith with the Governors Island Agreement. "Therefore, should the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with Security Council resolution 861 (1993) and having received the views of the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), inform the Security Council that, in his opinion, there is a serious and consistent non-compliance with the Governors Island Agreement, the Council will immediately reinstate those measures provided for in its resolution 841 (1993) appropriate to the situation, with particular emphasis on those measures aimed at those deemed responsible for the non-compliance with the Agreement. "The Council reaffirms that all the parties in Haiti are bound to comply with their obligations under the Governors Island Agreement, as well as with those embodied in the relevant international treaties to which Haiti is party and in all relevant Security Council resolutions. "The Council will closely monitor the situation in Haiti in the coming days." This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/26460. The Security Council has concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 12.55 p.m.