S/PV.5595 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 its prior consultations. After 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 regarding the increase in military activities of armed groups in eastern Chad. “The Security Council strongly condemns all attempts at destabilization by force, including the recent offensive carried out by these groups in the Biltine and the Ouaddei, and supports the statement of the President of the Commission of the African Union that those attacks against Chad are blatant violations of the principles stated in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, including respect for the territorial integrity and unity of Member States. The Security Council reaffirms that any attempt to seize power by force is unacceptable. It recalls the importance of an open political dialogue based on constitutional provisions to foster national reconciliation and durable peace in the country. “The Security Council expresses its concern regarding the threat that the increase in military activities of armed groups in eastern Chad poses for the safety of the civilian population and of humanitarian personnel and the maintenance of their operations in the eastern part of the country. It reiterates that the presence of a large number of refugees places a heavy burden on the host country and on the local communities, and emphasizes the need for humanitarian aid to continue reaching the people in need of assistance without any hindrance. It calls on the Government of Chad to do all it can to protect its civilian population. “The Security Council reaffirms its deep concern about the worsening security situation in Darfur. It stresses that a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Darfur, in accordance with the Darfur Peace Agreement and relevant Security Council resolutions, will contribute to restoring security and stability in the region, in particular in Chad and the Central African Republic, and reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of all States in the region. “The Security Council expresses its concern over the continuing tensions between Chad and the Sudan, urges the two States to abide fully by the obligations they assumed with regard to respect for and securing of their common border in the 8 February 2006 Tripoli Agreement and in subsequent agreements concluded between them, and once again urges the States of the region to cooperate with a view to ensuring their common stability. “The Security Council recalls that it looks forward to a prompt report of the Secretary- General with recommendations, as requested in previous relevant Security Council resolutions, focusing on ways of improving security conditions on the Chad side of the border with the Sudan and the monitoring of trans-border activities between Chad, the Sudan and the Central African Republic, bearing in mind the need to foster regional peace and stability.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2006/53. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.