S/PV.6122 Security Council

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. After consultations among the members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council condemns the renewed military incursions in eastern Chad of Chadian armed groups, coming from outside. “The Security Council stresses that any attempt at destabilization of Chad by force is unacceptable. It recalls the terms of the declarations of its President dated 4 February 2008 (S/PRST/2008/3) and 16 June 2008 (S/PRST/2008/22). It reiterates its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and political independence of Chad. It demands that rebel armed groups cease violence immediately and calls on all parties to re-engage in dialogue in the framework of the Sirte agreement of 25 October 2007. “The Security Council calls on Sudan and Chad to respect and fully implement their mutual commitments, in particular in the Doha Agreement of 3 May 2009 and the Dakar Agreement of 13 March 2008, and to engage constructively with the Dakar contact group and the good offices of Libya and Qatar, to normalize their relations, cooperate to put an end to cross- border activities of armed groups and strengthen actions to combat illicit arms trafficking in the region, including through the establishment of effective joint border monitoring. The Council expresses its concern at the external support received by Chadian armed groups, as reported by the Secretary-General. “The Security Council expresses deep concern at the direct threat the activity of armed groups poses for the safety of the civilian population and the conduct of humanitarian operations. It reiterates its full support for the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), which is mandated to contribute to protect vulnerable civilians including refugees and internally displaced persons, to protect United Nations and associated personnel and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. “The Security Council calls on all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular to respect the security of civilians, including women and children, humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel. “The Security Council encourages the Chadian authorities in promoting political dialogue, with respect for the constitutional framework, as initiated in the Agreement of 13 August 2007.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2009/13. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda.