S/PV.6952 Security Council

Under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Tiéman Hubert Coulibaly, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali, to participate in this meeting. Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2013/242, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Australia, France, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Togo, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2013/189, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Mali. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to a vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2100 (2013). I now call on members of the Council who wish to make a statement after the voting.

The Russian Federation voted in favour of resolution 2100 (2013) in view of the importance of increasing assistance to the Republic of Mali in its efforts to deal with a complex and comprehensive crisis, as well as in response to a request by the country’s authorities, supported by the relevant regional organizations. In that regard, we would like to stress that the primary responsibility for resolving the current problems belongs to Malians themselves. Every action and task of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), whose deployment was decided on today, must be directed exclusively at providing assistance to the Malian authorities. In the context of the resolution adopted today, as well as the recently adopted resolution 2098 (2013) regarding the deployment of an Intervention Brigade within the framework of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we are disturbed by the growing shift towards the military aspects of United Nations peacekeeping. What was once the exception now threatens to become unacknowledged standard practice, with unpredictable and unclear consequences for the security of United Nations personnel and their international legal status. In that connection, according to the situation clearly delineated in the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Mali (S/2013/189), there should be a clear boundary between peacekeeping and enforcing peace. That is why we believe that MINUSMA’s mandate excludes offensive or counter-terrorism operations. Such actions would be counter to the basic principles of peacekeeping. In the preamble to the resolution just adopted, the unshakeability of such principles was once again affirmed. We believe that using Blue Helmets for the tasks involved in arresting those accused by the International Criminal Court, including through the use of force, is not part of United Nations peacekeeping and carries a number of risks for the peacekeepers, who could find themselves required to take part in actions that should be conducted by specially trained troops. It is quite clear here that a military solution does not exist for the Mali crisis. The activity of MINUSMA must be backed by tangible and palpable political processes, which would include political dialogue between the main Malian sides.

I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali.

It is a great honour for me to take the floor during this meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Mali. First, I would like to sincerely congratulate Rwanda on its Council presidency  — a very agreeable task  — as well as all members of the Security Council for the remarkable work that they have accomplished during the month of April. I would also like to express my gratitude to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his untiring efforts, not only towards a lasting solution to the serious Malian crisis but also for everything that he has done for peace, stability and development in the Sahel. Security Council resolution 2100 (2013), which has just been adopted, is an important step in a process to stem the activities of terrorists and rebel groups in Mali  — Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in Western Africa, Ansar Dine and the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad — to promote dialogue and reconciliation between Malians and to ensure peace and stability throughout the national territory. My delegation is particularly pleased by the adoption of that resolution, which seeks to transfer functions from the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) to the new United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), created under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. Mali is fully prepared to welcome the United Nations Mission, which will focus, inter alia, on stabilizing the main urban centres in the north, restoring the authority of the State, and providing support for the road map, including political dialogue and the electoral process, the protection of civilians, the promotion and protection of human rights as well as humanitarian assistance. Thanks to the joint action of Operation Serval, the troops of AFISMA and the Malian security forces, significant progress has been achieved in the security area, particularly in taking back the main cities of the northern and central regions. Despite the hope raised by the success of the military operations, which has made it possible to progressively restore administration in certain areas, small cells of armed terrorists and rebels continue to present a serious threat to stability and the territorial integrity of Mali, as well as to peace and security in the region. That is why the Government of Mali welcomes the commitment of the international community to taking active measures to deter and prevent the return of armed rebel groups. As required by resolution 2100 (2013), the armed rebel groups must not only lay down their arms, but also immediately cease hostilities and unconditionally recognize the unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Mali. Wars and conflicts have devastating consequences on development. There can be no doubt that there can be no sustainable development without peace and without security. That is why I would like, in this Chamber, to appeal to the international community for better coordination of its action in order to effectively respond to the immediate and long-term needs of Mali and the countries of the region in the areas of security, governance, development and humanitarian action. We dare to hope that the international conference of donors to be held in Brussels on 15 May to help Mali in its development will achieve the desired results. We take this opportunity to thank the countries that have announced donations to the conference organized by the African Union in Addis Ababa on 29 January for their support to AFISMA and the Malian security and defence forces. We would also ask them to honour their pledges, and we invite other Member States and regional and international organizations to join in the wave of solidarity. As we speak, the transitional Government is actively involved in the implementation of the road map through, inter alia, the organization of fair, free and transparent elections and the beginning of an inclusive inter-Malian dialogue. Part of the dynamic is a dialogue and reconciliation commission, with the appointment of its Chairman and two Vice-Chairmen and 30 Commissioners representing the diversity of the Malian nation. On behalf of the President of the Republic of Mali, Mr. Dioncounda Traoré, allow me, Mr. President, to thank you, the members of the Security Council and the Secretary-General for the untiring efforts that have led to the adoption of today’s resolution. Along those lines, I would like to reiterate the determination of the transitional Government to fully cooperate with the Security Council and to play its role in the implementation of the resolution. I would also like to pay a sincere tribute to France for having been able, while fully respecting international legality, to put an end to the crimes of the terrorists in Mali and for its commitment to support MINUSMA. In conclusion, I would also like to express the sincere thanks of the Government of Mali to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and all our bilateral and multilateral partners, neighbouring countries and States of the region for their precious help as we deal with the Malian crisis. I would like to very much thank you for your kind attention.

I now give the floor the obsevrver of the African Union.

Allow me to apologize, on behalf of President Buyoya, who was unable to come to this meeting as the result of a scheduling conflict. He is in the General Assembly, which is holding a special commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Organization of African Unity and the African Union. President Buyoya has therefore given me the task of speaking on his behalf. “Allow me at the outset, on behalf of the Commission of the African Union and in my own personal capacity, to convey my gratitude to you, Sir, for having afforded us this opportunity to take the floor and deliver our message during the so important meeting on the situation in Mali. The Council will recall that the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States have been seized of the issue since the very eruption of the comprehensive and complex crisis that has struck Mali. The efforts of the two organizations will continue to be focused on assisting the Malian authorities to ensure that the country is able to restore its national unity, its territorial integrity and the constitutional order in a peaceful climate, one marked by genuine reconciliation between the various communities in Mali. “To achieve that objective, the two organizations have advocated a double strategy based on two axes of action, one a political process and the other military action, if necessary. Of course, we focused first on a dialogue process, based on our belief that we had to use every possible peaceful way to resolve the situation before resorting to military action. “With the subsequent realization that the political processes needed to be strengthened by a strategy requiring the armed groups to fulfil their commitments, we felt obliged to take the necessary steps for a possible military intervention in support of the political process. The attack on the town of Konna on 10 January 2013 by terrorist and criminal groups justified this approach. Indeed, that attack undermined the efforts at dialogue with elements among those armed groups, which we had been making up until that time, and led to the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA). “We have carried out all of these actions in close collaboration with the United Nations. It is therefore normal for us to support the initiative of transforming AFISMA into a United Nations mission. Indeed, we requested such a change. We support the decision to transform AFISMA into a United Nations stabilization mission. We welcome the fact that a number of our concerns with the draft resolution have been taken into account in the current text. We are encouraged by the statements made by several parties that our remaining concerns will be taken into account when it comes to implementing the resolution. “As our efforts regarding the crisis in Mali proceed, and in the light of our experience and added value in certain areas, we vigorously advocate for the following points. First, the central political roles of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States should be recognized, in full partnership with the United Nations mission. In that regard, the two organizations would maintain a strong presence in Bamako to pursue their political commitment in Mali. Secondly, the practice of consultations that has characterized all of our joint action on Mali to date should continue, especially with respect to taking major decisions, such as choosing contingents and selecting military and civilian leadership. Thirdly, there must be strong coordination between the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, the French force and the Malian army, which could be achieved through the appointment of liaison officers in the command structures of each force. “The process of transforming AFISMA into a United Nations mission is an eloquent illustration of the partnership between Africa and the United Nations, which we strongly hope will lead to a lasting solution to the ongoing crisis in Mali and for the well-being of all of the Malian people.”

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