S/PV.6535 Security Council

The United States will support the draft resolution that is before us, but we would like to highlight an important point. The aviation assets on loan to the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) will be returned to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) no later than 30 June, pursuant to the draft resolution, in order to avoid destabilizing Liberia. We applaud the efforts of UNMIL’s peacekeepers to continue to fulfil their duties, despite having fewer assets — a sacrifice they generously made, and which we all deemed necessary, to assist UNOCI in a time of need. Now, as Côte d’Ivoire begins to emerge from its crisis, we must not lose focus on Liberia. As Liberia enters its electoral season, with a referendum in August and a presidential election this fall, UNMIL must be fully equipped. We, as a Council, decided that UNMIL required specific assets to fulfil its mandate, and we must honour our commitment to ensuring that it has the tools on hand to do its job. The United States has promised to support clear, credible and achievable mandates that are fully resourced and equipped. We must not jeopardize Liberia’s fragile peace even as we continue to work to consolidate the progress that we have seen of late in Côte d’Ivoire. This will be the last extension of the loan of UNMIL’s assets that the United States will support, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

I shall now make a statement in my national capacity. As the Secretary-General recalls in his most recent letters to the Security Council, the Council’s priority task is to stabilize Côte d’Ivoire. Reinforcements to Côte d’Ivoire of military helicopters attached to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) play an essential role in this. The main threats of subregional destabilization are now in Côte d’Ivoire. It is not the Council’s job to interfere in the management of logistical peacekeeping assets by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The Council has always supported UNMIL, which should continue to enjoy the resources it needs in the context of the democratic transition that began four years ago following the end of a 10-year crisis. In that spirit, on 15 June the Security Council must seize the opportunity and modalities for cooperation between UNMIL and the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Gabon, Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1981 (2011). I call on the representative of Côte d’Ivoire.

Like all States represented here, Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 1981 (2001). My delegation stresses that Côte d’Ivoire is in transition and gradually emerging from the recent crisis. The security situation remains volatile, particularly in the western part of the country, and must be strengthened. We call on the Security Council to act pragmatically and flexibly in allocating resources, particularly military.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council will remain seized of the matter.