S/PV.6876 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Sierra Leone to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. After consultations among Council members, I have been authorized to make the following statement on their behalf: “The Security Council welcomes the briefing of the Executive Representative of the Secretary- General in Sierra Leone, Mr. Jens Toyberg- Frandzen, on 28 November 2012. “The Security Council commends Sierra Leone for the conduct and successful conclusion of presidential, parliamentary, district, and local elections, in particular acknowledging the important role played by Sierra Leone’s electoral institutions, political parties, civil society groups, international partners, and domestic and international observers. The Council congratulates the people of Sierra Leona on their large turnout in the elections, which showed their strong commitment to democracy. The Council welcomes the formal announcement of polling results from the National Electoral Commission and positive reports from observers on the conduct of the elections. “The Security Council recognizes the important role played by the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Siena Leone (UNIPSIL), the United Nations country team, and bilateral and international partners in supporting Sierra Leone during the electoral process. “The Security Council calls upon all political parties and candidates to accept the results and to work with the Government of Sierra Leone in a constructive manner through national dialogue and reconciliation. The Council urges all parties to resolve any grievances peacefully through the appropriate legal means, in accordance with Sierra Leone’s national laws. “The Security Council underscores the significance of these elections and the wide acceptance of the results as a key benchmark of consolidating peace in Siena Leone. They were the third set of elections to have been held in Sierra Leone since the end of the civil war and the first to be run entirely by Sierra Leone’s democratic institutions. “The Security Council stresses that there is important work ahead to further embed peace and secure equitable prosperity for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans. The Security Council notes the importance of the formulation and implementation of a robust development and peace consolidation programme that is inclusive and improves the lives of all Sierra Leoneans, and urges the new Administration and all political parties to finalise the programme in a balanced and inclusive manner. “The Security Council urges the international community and development partners to continue to provide coordinated and coherent support to Sierra Leone to meet its peacebuilding and development priorities. “In addition, the Security Council requests the Peacebuilding Commission to continue to provide support to Siena Leone, in particular in international resource mobilisation efforts and coordination of international development partners. “The Security Council recalls its request in resolution 2065 (2012) for the Secretary-General to deploy an inter-agency technical assessment mission to Sierra Leone, and in particular for this mission to consider detailed proposals and a recommended timeline for the transition, drawdown, and exit strategy for UNIPSIL by no later than 15 February 2013.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2012/25. I now give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Allow me to express our thanks and appreciation to you, Sir, for organizing this meeting on the situation in Sierra Leone, and to the Council for its support for our peacebuilding efforts and democratic consolidation. In particular, I commend the Council’s timely presidential statement and would like to reaffirm my Government’s commitment to the consolidation of peace and democracy, as well as the development of Sierra Leone, which we hope will translate into visible improvement in the lives of the people of Sierra Leone. To that end, the Government has expressed its willingness to work with all Sierra Leoneans, irrespective of their political affiliation. Immediately after being sworn in for his second term, President Koroma immediately called on all Sierra Leoneans to put politics behind them and to come together to build Sierra Leone. We look forward to working with all partners, including the Peacebuilding Commission, in securing the gains already made, as well as in moving into a more development-oriented phase of peacebuilding.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.