Security Council meeting 6102

The President

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of the Central African Republic, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the consideration of the item, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

The President

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations.

I wish to draw the attention of members to document S/2009/128, containing a letter dated 3 March 2009 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council.

After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council welcomes the recent progress towards implementing the recommendations of the inclusive political dialogue, held in Bangui from 8 to 20 December 2008. It reiterates its full support for this process, as an effective framework to foster national reconciliation and stability in the Central African Republic. The Council calls on all parties to sustain the momentum created by the dialogue and the spirit of compromise and cooperation that enabled its successful holding.

“The Security Council demands that all armed groups which have not yet done so, particularly those recently operating in the northern Central African Republic, cease violence immediately. It calls on all parties to respect and implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Libreville on 21 June 2008 and their earlier commitments contained in the Sirte Agreement of February 2007 and the Birao Agreement of April 2007. It invites countries in the region to support efforts to bring all groups into the peace process.

“The Security Council calls on all armed groups to immediately cease the recruitment and use of children and release all children associated with them. The Council calls on all parties, as a matter of priority, to develop and implement, in close collaboration with the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic, action plans in the framework of Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005).

“The Security Council stresses the urgency and imperative necessity of carrying out the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process (DDR). It calls on all parties in the Central African Republic to work with determination to that end. The Council welcomes the pledge made by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) on 30 January 2009 to contribute to fund the DDR process, and calls on the international community to provide timely and adequate support to the process.

“The Security Council calls on the Government of the Central African Republic and all political stakeholders to ensure the timely, effective and transparent preparation for the 2009 and 2010 municipal, legislative and presidential elections.

“The Security Council welcomes the recommendation by the Secretary-General, in his letter dated 3 March 2009 (S/2009/128), to establish a United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) to succeed the current United Nations peacebuilding office (BONUCA). It notes with satisfaction that the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office will perform the following tasks:

“(a) To assist national and local efforts in implementing the dialogue outcomes, in particular through support for governance reforms and electoral processes;

“(b) To assist in the successful completion of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and the reform of security sector institutions, and support activities to promote the rule of law;

“(c) To support efforts to restore State authority in the provinces;

“(d) To support efforts to enhance national human rights capacity and promote respect for human rights and the rule of law, justice and accountability;

“(e) To closely coordinate with and support the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as the implementation of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding and projects supported through the Peacebuilding Fund;

“(f) To exchange information and analysis with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) on emerging threats to peace and security in the region.

“It also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the integrated office undertakes the following additional task:

“(g) To help ensure that child protection is properly addressed in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the DDR process, including by supporting the monitoring and reporting mechanism established according to resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005).

“The Council requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the smooth transition to the new integrated office take place as soon as possible, including through the early deployment of the new Special Representative and deputy. The Council further requests the Secretary-General to inform it in his next report on the structure and strength of the new office, bearing in mind that resources for special political missions are limited.

“The Security Council welcomes the support provided by the Peacebuilding Commission to the Central African Republic, looks forward to the finalization of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding, and calls on the donor community to work with the Commission to identify sectors that are critical for long-term stability and development in the Central African Republic and to intensify their support in those sectors.”

This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2009/5.

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