S/PV.6444 Security Council

Participants have before them document S/2010/584, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Central African Republic and on the activities of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in that country. 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 supports the ongoing efforts aimed at national reconciliation in the Central African Republic and welcomes the progress achieved so far. It calls on the politico- military groups that have not joined the political peace process to do so. “The Security Council calls upon the Government of the Central African Republic and all national stakeholders to continue their efforts to move forward expeditiously with the preparation and conduct of free, fair, transparent and credible elections. “In this regard, the Security Council takes note of the presidential decree of 30 July 2010 that has set 23 January 2011 as the date for the first round of the presidential and legislative elections, and of the peaceful completion of the registration process. “The Security Council calls for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to continue its efforts to meet the timetable agreed by all stakeholders and to address outstanding technical and logistical challenges promptly, transparently and in a consensual manner, with the support of the international community. It urges all national stakeholders to uphold the independence of the IEC and to respect the result of the polls. “The Security Council acknowledges the progress made so far in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process. It calls on all politico-military groups to take the necessary measures for the transparent and accountable completion of disarmament and demobilization without delay. “It also calls on the Government of the Central African Republic to expedite the elaboration and implementation of a national reintegration strategy for former combatants and notes that transparent funding and coordination of reintegration programmes is critical to the programmes’ long-term success. It encourages the international community, including the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), to provide timely and adequate support to the process. “The Security Council renews its call to the Government of the Central African Republic to revive the efforts to reform security sector institutions, which is a crucial element of the peacebuilding process in the Central African Republic, and for addressing widespread impunity, promoting the rule of law and increasing respect for human rights. “The Security Council remains seriously concerned by the security situation in Central African Republic. The Council condemns all attacks by local and foreign armed groups that threaten the population as well as the peace and stability of the Central African Republic and the subregion, including the July 19 and November 24 attacks by the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace on Birao. “The Security Council commends States in the region for their increased cooperation, welcomes efforts they have made to address the threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and notes, in this regard, the recommendations that resulted from the conference hosted by the African Union in Bangui in October 2010, which include the formation of a joint operations centre, a joint brigade and increased cooperation on border patrols. It calls for the countries of the region and the relevant United Nations missions to continue to enhance coordination and information- sharing regarding the threat posed by the LRA. “Noting the primary responsibility of the Government of the Central African Republic to promote security and to protect its civilians with respect for the rule of law, human rights, and international humanitarian law, the Security Council stresses the importance of bilateral partners’ work enhancing the capacity of the Central African Armed Forces and stresses that such assistance should be in support of the wider security sector reform process. The Security Council also encourages further cooperation between the Governments of the Central African Republic, Chad and the Sudan in order to secure their common borders. The Security Council recognizes the contribution of the Mission for the Consolidation of Peace in the Central African Republic (MICOPAX) in support of durable peace and security in the Central African Republic and calls on regional and subregional organizations to consider, upon request of the Government of the Central African Republic, further actions to support security in the Central African Republic, such as reinforcing MICOPAX. “The Security Council welcomes the ongoing support to the peacebuilding process in the Central African Republic provided by the international community. It welcomes in particular the important work of BINUCA, under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, and the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission in advising and advocating for coordinated international support to address core peacebuilding priorities, including elections and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. The Security Council further welcomes the finalization of the Integrated Strategic Framework for the coordination of peacebuilding efforts in the Central African Republic. “The Security Council welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the Central African Republic dated 19 November 2010 (S/2010/584) and the recommendations contained therein, and welcomes the extension of BINUCA for the period of one year up until 31 December 2011, operating in accordance with its mandate as set out in the statement of its President of 7 April 2009 (S/PRST/2009/5), taking into consideration the withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad from the north-east of the Central African Republic.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2010/26. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.