S/PV.5177 Security Council

The Security Council will now resume its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security 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 welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on assistance by the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) to the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) of 3 May 2005 (S/2005/285) and the proposals therein on support the United Nations could make available to AMIS. “The Security Council applauds the vital leadership role the African Union is playing in Darfur and the work of AMIS on the ground. The Council supports the findings of the joint assessment mission, led by the African Union from 10 to 22 March 2005, which included the United Nations and other partners. The Council also supports the subsequent decision taken by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council on 28 April 2005 to expand its mission in Darfur to 7,731 personnel by the end of September 2005. “The Security Council welcomes the ongoing deployment of UNMIS and looks forward to close coordination and cooperation between UNMIS and AMIS. In this context, the Council recalls its request in resolution 1590 (2005) for UNMIS to closely and continuously liaise and coordinate, at all levels, with the African Union Mission in the Sudan with a view towards expeditiously reinforcing the effort to foster peace in Darfur, especially with regard to the Abuja peace process and the African Union Mission in the Sudan. “The Security Council welcomes the role played by the African Union’s partners in support of AMIS and underlines the active role played by the European Union and by other, bilateral, donors. “The Council emphasizes the importance of increased coordinated international assistance for the African Union effort in Darfur and emphasizes the readiness of the United Nations to continue playing a key role. In this context, the Council welcomes the second joint assessment mission from 1 to 4 May, which included representatives from the AU, the United Nations and other partners. The Council looks forward to continuing contacts in order to facilitate provision of assistance as requested by the African Union. The Council welcomes, in this regard, the effort and intention of the Secretary-General to consult closely with the African Union on the scope and nature of possible United Nations support to AMIS.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2005/18. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.