S/PV.3963 Security Council

As this is the first meeting of the Security Council to be held this year, I should like to wish a happy new year to all members of the Security Council as well as to all Members of the United Nations and to the Secretariat. On behalf of the Council, I welcome the new members of the Council: Argentina, Canada, Malaysia, Namibia and the Netherlands. We all look forward with confidence to their participation in the work of the Council. We are convinced that their experience and wisdom will be of invaluable assistance in the discharge of the Council’s enormous responsibilities. I should like also to express the Council’s deep gratitude to the outgoing members for their important and decisive contributions to its work. The representatives of Costa Rica, Japan, Kenya, Portugal and Sweden have all, in an excellent manner, contributed their talents to the business of the Council. Expression of thanks to the retiring President

As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of January 1999, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Jassim Mohammed Buallay, Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of December 1998. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Buallay for the great diplomatic skill with which he conducted the Council’s business last month. I should like also to express our appreciation for the cooperation extended to us in our work by Counsellor Liu Jieyi of China, who I understand is leaving us. Adoption of the agenda

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Sierra Leone in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the There being no objection, it is so decided.

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. Members of the Council have received photocopies of letters dated 6 January 1999 from the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council and 7 January 1999 from the Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council, which will be issued as documents of the Security Council under the symbols S/1999/17 and S/1999/18, respectively. 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 expresses its grave concern at the attacks by armed rebels of the former junta and Revolutionary United Front in the capital of Sierra Leone, and at the resulting suffering and loss of life. It condemns the unacceptable attempt by the rebels to overthrow by violence the democratically elected Government of Sierra Leone. The Council also condemns the rebels’ continued campaign to terrorize the population of Sierra Leone and especially the atrocities committed against women and children. The Council demands that the rebels lay down their arms immediately and cease all violence. The Council reiterates once more its firm support for the legitimate and democratically elected Government of President Kabbah. “The Security Council strongly condemns all those who have afforded support, including through the supply of arms and mercenaries, to the rebels in Sierra Leone. In this context, it expresses its grave concern at reports that such support to the rebels is “The Security Council stresses the importance of dialogue and national reconciliation for the restoration of lasting peace and stability to Sierra Leone. The Council welcomes the efforts to resolve the conflict being undertaken by the Government of President Kabbah, and further endorses the approach set out in the final communiqué of the meeting in Abidjan of the Committee of Six on Sierra Leone of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of 28 December 1998 (S/1998/1236). It welcomes the offers made by leaders in the region aimed at resolving the conflict and in that context urges them, including the ECOWAS Committee of Six, to facilitate the peace process. It also calls on the Secretary-General to do all he can to assist in these efforts, including through his Special Representative. “The Security Council also expresses its concern at the serious humanitarian consequences of the escalating fighting in Sierra Leone. It calls on all States and international organizations to provide appropriate humanitarian assistance and on all parties in Sierra Leone to afford humanitarian access. The “The Security Council commends the forces of the Military Observer Group of West African States in Sierra Leone for the courage and determination they have demonstrated over the last year in their efforts to maintain security in Sierra Leone. It also commends the key contribution of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in efforts to restore stability in the country. The Council urges all States urgently to provide resources, including logistical and other support, to help maintain an effective peacekeeping presence in Sierra Leone. “The Security Council expresses its intention to continue to monitor the situation closely and to consider urgently any further action which may be necessary.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1999/1. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.