Summary: January 23, 2004: Statement to the Security Council of the United Nations by H.E. Ambassador Richard Ryan, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations on behalf of the European Union. Progress report of the Secretary-General on the recommendations of the Security Council mission to West Africa (New York)
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia; the Candidate Countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey; the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro; and the EFTA countries, Iceland and Norway, members of the
European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
Mr. President,
The European Union expresses its appreciation to the Security Council for presenting an opportunity for the international community to discuss how we can work in concert to overcome the challenges faced by West Africa.
Mr. President
As this is the first time in 2004 the European Union has had the opportunity to speak on African issues here at the Security Council, it is appropriate we take this opportunity to emphasise the great importance we attach to our partnership with Africa and her people.
The European Union enjoys a rich and deep engagement with Africa, both directly and in partnership with the United Nations. Our commitment to Africa results from our belief that the promotion of peace and sustainable development in Africa constitutes one of the major challenges to the international community today. Our approach to this challenge is to forge ever-stronger ties with Africa through mechanisms such as the Cotonou Agreement and the proposed African Peace Facility, which will assist
the African Union and the regional organisations to enhance their capacity and allow Africans to take the lead in resolving conflicts on the continent.
Mr. President,
A fundamental principle of the European Union's relationship with Africa has been to assess our engagement there on a continental, regional, subregional, national or local level as called for by the issue at hand. Nowhere has the need for a subregional approach been more evident in recent years than in West Africa. With this in mind, the European Union, in this chamber in May 2003, welcomed the Security Council's decision to send a mission to West Africa. The mission's report, its
recommendations, and the Secretary-General's insightful responses to those recommendations, have shown that the mission was, as expected, an undertaking of the greatest importance.
The European Union is convinced that the Mission's recommendations on a comprehensive regional approach, and their endorsement by the Secretary-General, are not only welcome but, in fact, represent the only viable way we have to ensure success in West Africa.
Mr. President
West Africa has suffered years of violence, population displacement, human rights abuses of the most heinous kind, and economic depression. The conflicts at the core of the suffering have been exacerbated by regional rivalries and insecurities that at times appeared to be motivated more by individual greed than by any real security threat in the subregion.
Today, the situation in West Africa is considerably improved. In Sierra Leone the international community is considering how UNAMSIL can disengage from the country while, concurrently, building Sierra Leone's national capacity in areas such as security and reconstruction. The Special Court for Sierra Leone is playing an important role in re-establishing the rule of law and promoting national reconciliation. In Liberia, the United Nations, week by week, is bringing security and hope to the
people of that shattered nation and the formerly-warring parties are participating in an effort to rebuild a national capacity for governance. In Côte d'Ivoire the parties to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement are making progress towards fully implementing the programme for national reconciliation and this Council is considering the authorisation of a new peacekeeping force to succeed the MINUCI and ECOMICI operations in that country. In Guinea Bissau, initial steps by the transitional Government
are encouraging.
Mr. President
While the European Union recognises and welcomes the significant progress made in each of these countries, we continue to urge all the parties to implement fully all the elements of the respective peace agreements. Furthermore, the European Union underscores the need for the international community to continue its support for West Africa. The upcoming donors' conference for Liberia will be an important opportunity to demonstrate our support for the peace process and reconstruction there.
Mr. President
While recognising the regional causes of conflict in West Africa, it would be wrong not also to recognise the regional contribution to their solution. This is most notably the case in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia where the assertive action by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was critical to the restoration of peace. The European Union commends ECOWAS for its leadership and continuing engagement, and we are continuing to develop and strengthen our relationship with ECOWAS. The
European Union believes regional cooperation and dialogue will only strengthen the security of West Africa, and in that regard the European Union calls on all the leaders in the subregion to engage in meaningful and constructive dialogue on the bilateral and subregional level.
Mr. President
The conflicts of West Africa, and the circumstance of their genesis, have resulted in common challenges across the subregion. As the international community addresses issues such as the reintegration of child soldiers, disarming and demobilising irregular and sometimes mercenary forces that do not respect national borders, protecting women and children from sexual violence, facilitating the return and resettlement of displaced persons and refugees, tackling the culture of impunity, restoring
the rule of law, overcoming environmental degradation, and stemming the proliferation of small arms, we must take a regional approach.
With this in mind the European Union welcomes the Secretary-General's initiative in requesting a report from his Special Representative for West Africa, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, on defining a holistic strategy to bringing West Africa out of the nightmare of conflict and suffering it has been lost in for far too long. The European Union too is actively considering a regional strategy for West Africa which will focus on conflict prevention and resolution.
The European Union welcomes the increasing interaction between the Security Council and ECOSOC in addressing the challenges of peace building in countries emerging from conflict.
Mr. President
The European Union looks forward to strengthening our partnership with the United Nations in pursuit of our shared objectives for this region. In this regard the EU Presidency's Special Representative, Mr. Hans Dahlgren, and the Union as a whole stand ready to deepen our dialogue with the Secretary General and his staff, with the UN operations in West Africa, with ECOWAS and the Mano River Union countries, and with all the countries of the region to ensure our approaches are in concert,
mutually reinforcing and ultimately successful.
Thank you, Mr. President.
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page