S/PV.6118 Security Council

I want to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month and also to congratulate Ambassador Heller on the excellent work he did as President of the Council last month. On 7 April 2009 my delegation informed the Council that we would prepare and circulate a draft presidential statement on the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, to be considered under the item “Peace and security in Africa”. Today, I am pleased that, following exhaustive consultations on the draft presidential statement, which were characterized by a spirit of give and take over a period of close to a month, we now have a text that is acceptable to all delegations. I would like to thank members for their full cooperation and support. The African Union considers the prevention of the scourge of unconstitutional changes of government to be a key priority. In that regard, the twelfth ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union, held on 1 to 3 February 2009, requested international partners, especially the United Nations, to support the efforts of the African Union. The presidential statement you are about to read out is, in our view, a fitting outcome and an expression of the Security Council’s deep concern over the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, as well as a show of support for the efforts of the African Union. Uganda, as Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa, welcomes the Council’s support. We believe that the presidential statement will greatly contribute to efforts aimed at preventing and deterring the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, now and in the future.

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 deep concern over the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in a few African countries. The Security Council expresses its concern at the possible violence that may accompany such events as well as the negative impact on economic and social welfare of the people and the development of affected countries. The Security Council stresses the importance of expeditiously restoring constitutional order including through open and transparent elections. “The Security Council reiterates its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and recalls that cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, can improve collective security. “The Security Council welcomes the continuing important efforts of the African Union and subregional organizations, consistent with Security Council resolutions and decisions, to settle conflicts, promote human rights, democracy, rule of law, and constitutional order in Africa. “The Security Council also welcomes the decision of the twelfth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, held on 1 to 3 February 2009, which expressed the African Union’s concern and condemnation of the resurgence of coups d’état that it concluded not only constitute a dangerous political downturn and serious setback to the democratic processes but could also pose a threat to peace, security and stability of the continent. “The Security Council further welcomes preventive measures undertaken by the African Union and subregional organizations against unconstitutional changes of government.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2009/11. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.