S/PV.3643 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in the course of 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 welcomes the Parliamentary and Presidential elections held in Sierra Leone on 26 and 27 February 1996 and the second round of Presidential elections held on 15 March. It congratulates the people of Sierra Leone on the courage and determination they have shown in proceeding with the elections despite difficulties and disruptions, and pays tribute to all those involved in the success of the elections, in particular the Interim National Electoral Commission and its Chairman. The Council stresses the importance it attaches to a peaceful transition to civilian rule. It welcomes the commitment by the Chairman of the National Provisional Ruling Council to hand over authority by 31 March 1996 and calls upon all concerned to cooperate fully with the newly elected President and Parliament. “The Security Council notes that the Joint International Observer Group, which monitored the first round of elections, was impressed by the “The Security Council calls upon the international community to provide generous assistance to help in resolving the humanitarian problems caused by the conflict in Sierra Leone, and to assist the Government and people of that country in the task of reconstruction that now faces them. “The Security Council requests the Secretary- General to continue to monitor the situation in Sierra Leone and to keep the Council informed of significant developments.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1996/12. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda.