UNAMSIL

PRESS BRIEFING
6 JULY 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MS. MARGARET NOVICKI- SPOKESMAN

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ADDRESS CONFLICTS IN AFRICA AT OAU SUMMIT
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who heads to Zambia later this week to attend the Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit, said yesterday, 5 July, that the question of bringing stability to the continent would top the agenda of his meetings in Lusaka.
Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Annan said that at the OAU summit, he hoped to discuss with African leaders "the need to work together to end the crisis and the conflicts on the continent, and particularly at a time when they are thinking of creating an African Union, to work together to end the conflicts and focus on economic and social issues."
Noting that "union" implies harmony and stability, the Secretary-General stressed that if African leaders were going to form a union, "they should look at how the European Union did it, and begin by ending conflicts." Mr. Annan will address the OAU summit on Monday, 9 July, before heading to Germany and Switzerland, and then to Italy, where he will attend the "Group of Eight" meeting later this month.
UN CONFERENCE ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS OPENS MONDAY
An upcoming United Nations conference on small arms and light weapons will provide the international community with a chance to take concrete steps in response to a multifaceted global crisis, the senior UN disarmament official said yesterday. At a press briefing in New York, Jayantha Dhanapala, the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament, said the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons and All Its Aspects, to be held in New York from 9 to 20 July, would offer the UN the opportunity to "demonstrate practical action on this very important issue."
Mr. Dhanapala said, "Fundamentally, the Conference that we will hold next week is looking at the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in an international context, which has helped to exacerbate conflict." Marking and tracing small arms and light weapons will be one of the issues expected to dominate the discussions, along with brokering activities, export controls, links between the licit and illicit trade, civilian possession of small arms and light weapons, and the transfer of those arms to non-State actors, said Mr. Dhanapala.
He expressed confidence that "what will emerge finally as a programme of action will be sufficiently strong as to embody a number of effective measures for the control of this problem," noting that the Conference - the first held by the UN on the small arms issue - is "the beginning of a process."
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the conference's "main goal is going to be to try and ensure that we control illicit arms trade, to ensure that guns do not get into the wrong hands." He noted that the history of the last 20 years or so showed that most of the killing in the world, apart from the AIDS epidemic, was being done by small arms. "These arms are doing incredible damage in cities, in war-torn areas, and I hope we can get the manufacturers and governments to work with us in controlling the flow of these illicit arms," Mr. Annan said.
A press kit on the conference will be handed out to you and we ask that you give this important meeting maximum coverage.
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPORT ON AFRICA FOR ECOSOC MEETING RELEASED
Efforts to promote development in Africa must move beyond the current focus on difficulties towards a positive agenda for the continent, according to a just-released report by Secretary-General Kofi Annan that is slated for consideration by ministers attending a high-level UN meeting in Geneva later this month.
The report, prepared for the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council, deals with the UN's role in supporting the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development. Introducing the document at a press conference in Geneva yesterday, Nitin Desai, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said what the continent needed was a positive agenda for development.
He pointed to growing global attention to African development, evidenced by the UN Millennium Summit, the UN Conference on Least Developed Countries, and the recent General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS. African-led initiatives were also gaining prominence, including the Millennium Action Plan for African Recovery which had been launched by the Presidents of South Africa, Algeria and Nigeria. The report tried to focus attention on how to create a sense of partnership between these regional initiatives and the global forces, Mr. Desai noted.
He said the high-level segment should serve to cast light on the issue and foster cooperation among all concerned. "What we are trying to do here is to gain, through the session, some political visibility, a stronger attention on partnerships and a genuine dialogue between African leaders and their development partners from outside," he observed.
The high-level segment, set to run from 16 to 18 July, will bring together ministers and representatives from the Council's 54 member countries as well as observer States. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is scheduled to address the opening of the forum.
The heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other UN officials will also take part in the discussions.
SECURITY COUNCIL SEES PROGRESS IN STEMMING ILLEGAL DIAMOND TRADE
Members of the Security Council yesterday welcomed progress achieved so far in stemming the illegal trade in diamonds from Sierra Leone, while stressing the importance of "rigorous implementation" by all States of the measures imposed by the Council to prohibit the import of all rough diamonds from the country.
In a statement to the press following closed-door consultations, the Council President, Ambassador Wang Yingfan of China, said the members welcomed reports indicating that the Sierra Leone diamond certification scheme was "having a positive effect" - a trend which he said was "clear from the fact that there has been an increase in the quantity of diamonds passing through the Government's hands."
Council members also welcomed the establishment of a certificate scheme in Guinea and supported the continued efforts of the Economic Community of West African States, as well as those of the countries of the region, to develop a region-wide certification regime.
"Council members stressed the responsibility of diamond importing as well as exporting countries for fully implementing resolution 1306 [which banned the import of illicit diamonds from Sierra Leone] and reiterated the importance of breaking the link between sales of conflict diamonds and the purchase of weapons," Ambassador Wang said.
The statement noted that the peace process in Sierra Leone was about to enter a "crucial phase" as UNAMSIL began to move into diamond-producing areas. Council members "look forward to receiving further information from the Government of Sierra Leone, including plans for managing the diamond fields," the President said, stressing that "a successful strategy for managing the diamond fields would be critical for the sustainability of the peace process and Sierra Leone's future development."
The Council statement followed a closed-door review of the ban, during which the 15-member body was briefed by the Chairman of the Sierra Leone sanctions committee, Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN.
MEETING HELD AT UNAMSIL TO DISCUSS DDR PROCESS
Yesterday, 5 July, a meeting was held at UNAMSIL headquarters to discuss the ongoing DDR process in Bonthe and Kono districts. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Behrooz Sadry, and attended by UNAMSIL's Force Commander and Deputy Force Commander, as well as Chief Hinga Norman and other CDF officials, and Dr. Francis Kaikai of the National Commission on Disarmament,
Demobilization and Reintegration. It was agreed that a demobilization center would be opened at Matru, on Monday, 9 July, to cater for those CDF combatants wishing to disarm there, in addition to the center on Bonthe Island. As of yesterday, 5 July, 51 CDF combatants had disarmed at Bonthe, including 18 children, and 30 RUF and 8 CDF had disarmed at Koidu. Since 18 May, a total of 2,120 RUF and 4,394 CDF combatants have disarmed.
WOMEN'S HELPLINE CENTRE LAUNCHED
A UNAMSIL-initiated community-based project, Women's Helpline Centre, was launched yesterday at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown by the Minister of Gender and Children's Affairs, Mrs. Shirley Gbujama. Senior Government officials, UNAMSIL representatives, traditional chiefs, the police and civil society organizations attended the ceremony. The project was designed to assist women victims of the war, particularly rape victims, battered women and sexually abused children. The national coordinator of Helpline is Mrs. Kadi Fakondo, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police.
NIGERIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS DELEGATION MEET WITH UNAMSIL FORCE COMMANDER
A visiting delegation from the Nigerian Army Headquarters yesterday paid a courtesy call on UNAMSIL Force Commander Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande yesterday. The delegation is in Sierra Leone for talks with officials from UNAMSIL and the Government of Sierra Leone, and also to visit the areas where the Nigerian peacekeepers serving under UNAMSIL are deployed.
Lt. Gen. Opande briefed the delegation on the general security situation in the country and the ongoing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process. The Force Commander also thanked Nigeria, the largest African troop-contributing country to UNAMSIL, for its contribution to the Sierra Leone peace process, and expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the Nigerian contingent.
In response, the head of the delegation, Maj. Gen. S.E. Asemota, Commandant, Army Signal School, commended the Force Commander for UNAMSIL's achievements in restoring peace to Sierra Leone. Other members of the seven-men delegation, which arrived in Freetown on 4 July, include Brig. Gen. S. Iliya, Brig. Gen. A. Ajibade, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Garba, Col. B.O. Musa, Col. J.F. Alaga, and Lt.Col. Lincoln K.J. Ogunewe, who is secretary of the delegation.
During its stay in Sierra Leone, from 4-7 July, the Nigerian delegation is expected to visit the Nigerian Contingent Headquarters; Goderich, the headquarters of the Nigerian Battalion (NIBATT) 5; Port Loko (NIBATT 8); and Makeni (NIBATT 7).
UNAMSIL CIVIL AFFAIRS AND CCP COORDINATION MEETING HELD
A UNAMSIL/Commission for the Consolidation of Peace (CCP) coordination meeting was held in Freetown on 4 July. The meeting, chaired by the Senior District Officer of Kono district, was attended by CCP Commissioners, displaced paramount and regent chiefs from Kono district resident in Freetown, and UNAMSIL officials.
Discussions centered on the revival of the local economy in Kono, subsistence and cash crop agriculture, disarmament in the district, and the reinstatement of immigration control as well as the maintenance of security along the borders of Sierra Leone. The meeting noted that Koidu town had been totally destroyed and that a significant amount of resources was required for its reconstruction. An assessment trip will be made to the district in the coming week.
UNAMSIL HUMAN RIGHTS SECTION MEETS WITH RUF SPOKESMAN
The Chief of UNAMSIL's Human Rights Section, Mr. Rodolfo Mattarollo, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission focal point, Mr. Richard Bennett, together with Military Observers and a Civil Affairs officer, met with RUF spokesman Gibril Massaquoi and Col. Kallon in Makeni on 4 July. The nature of the TRC, the nomination and selection process, as well as the types of recommendations the Commission is expected to produce were discussed in detail. An invitation to nominate persons to the Commission and to consider an RUF representative on the selection panel was renewed. Also discussed was the relationship between the TRC and the Special Court. It was agreed in principle that a TRC information workshop for the RUF will be held on 16 July, followed by a workshop for Makeni residents on 23 July.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: You gave a figure of 38 fighters disarmed at Kono. The disarmament started July 2nd and we understand that at one stage the disarmament came to a standstill. Has the disarmament resumed in Kono if we still maintain the figure of 38 fighters?
A: I think you just answered your question. You are right that on the first day, we had 38 fighters who disarmed--30 RUF and 8 CDF--in Kono. Since that time, no one has turned in for disarmament. As I explained, we had a meeting yesterday to sort out some few hiccups in the disarmament process. We think there has been a failure in communication down to the boys on the ground and also both parties to the conflict are waiting is to see if one side is going to come in, before the other side will come in. We are addressing this problem and we are confident that all will be ironed out if not today, tomorrow, and they will be coming in to disarm.
Q: My paper reported this halt in the disarmament process in Kono, and the DDR official went over the radio to say that we told lies, and that they were on the ground. Could you confirm whether DDR official were on the ground when the disarmament started and they are giving a figure saying 47 people have so far disarmed, so whom should we believe now?
A: I can't answer for NCDDR, so you would have to raise whatever question you have with NCDDR. All I can tell you is the figures that we have are from our people on the ground and that's what I gave you.
Q: How is the disarmament progressing in Bonthe?
A: We had some CDF who came in yesterday--about 21. The problem in Bonthe has been, we believe, miscommunication. The CDF on the ground say they were not informed that those who are disarming on Bonthe mainland-i.e. as distinct from Bonthe Island and peninsular area--would be taken to the DDR center in Moyamba. They say they do not want to go to Moyamba, that they would rather go through the DDR process in Matru. This was the subject of discussion in our meeting yesterday and it was agreed that a center will be set up quickly in Matru so that they can do what is considered to be "fast-track" DDR. They are saying they want to go right back to their farms or their places of work. They don't want to spend a long time in the DDR camps. So the agreement that was reached yesterday is that a center will be made functional hopefully by Monday in Matru for those CDF who wish to disarm there.
Q: There is some amount of recalcitrance from the side of the CDF and I suppose in this very room there was an accord sign between the CDF and the RUF. Now you are telling me of about hiccups and communications breakdowns here and there. What is UNAMSIL's position as regards compliance of the CDF to disarmament? And briefly Monday my information is that they are going to restart disarmament in Bonthe, Kono and Moyamba and the NCDDR officials are supposed to be there on Monday. Can you confirm that the coming Monday disarmament is going to start in these three districts?
A: I think you weren't listening to what I just said, because I just said that we are trying to work out these problems and that on Monday we hope to open a center in Matru. Disarmament hasn't stopped--anybody who wants to come in and disarm today is welcome to come. The centers are there, they are manned by our personnel, they can come and disarm. It has not stopped. It has slowed due to some difficulties on the ground that it is in all our interests that we work out. And I think what everybody is trying to do in good faith is try to solve the problems. I don't think we should be looking at it microscopically, that today only 20 came or only 8 came in. Let's try to look at the big picture and see that we have a commitment on both sides to disarm.
Disarmament is not going to be trouble-free. There are going to be hiccups along the way, there are going to be hurdles we have to overcome. But the important point is that everybody is talking, everybody is sitting down and trying to iron out those problems that exist so that the process moves forward. So that's the way we look at it.
Q: What are these problems and hiccups?
A: I explained what the problems were, and I explained we had a meeting yesterday to address those problems and we believe they have been addressed. We will take it from here and see what happens in the coming days if those agreements that were undertaken yesterday are respected, which we believe they will be. We hope that everything will be on track, if not this weekend, by early next week.
Q: What are you doing to make sure information get to the fighters on the ground?
A: Like I said, our centers are open. The guys on the ground have to come to the centers and bring in their weapons. And we expect them to do that. We are talking with all leaders of the responsible organizations to see to it that they communicate to their people on the ground that agreements have been signed and that they should be respected.
Q: Inaudible
A: Both sides are kind of playing a wait and see game. They want to see who is going to come in on which side and how many. And if they didn't see them coming in on one side, then the other side wouldn't want to come in. The way we have to deal with those kinds of problems is to talk to the leadership for them to talk to the combatants and explain. Disarmament is not a numbers game. It's not about, this ones comes in with ten; therefore that one must come in with ten. Everybody has to disarm, everybody, all the combatants. So if ten on one side come in, it doesn't mean a hundred can't come in on the other side. It's not about having to come in in parallel numbers. They all have to come in. Whether they come in ten today and a hundred tomorrow, or a hundred today and ten tomorrow really doesn't matter.
Q: What are you saying to the commanders on the ground?
A: We have explained to those people in positions of responsibility that it is not about numbers-it's about disarmament--that they all have to disarm.
Q: There was a request made by the CDF--especially the ones in Kono--that the only way they can disarm in Kono is for Chief Hinga Norman and other official paramount chiefs presence to be in Kono. I just want to know whether this request still stands.
A: There are some traditional leaders I believe who will be going to talk to the combatants on the ground today.
Q: Before the disarmament started in Kono on Monday were there any proper arrangements between UNAMSIL the CDF and the RUF and all the other parties that matter in the disarmament exercise? Then secondly, what were the number you have in mind and thirdly had there been any increase in the number of disarmed combatants quite apart from the 38 who got disarmed on Monday?
A: I already answered that question. I said 38 fighters have disarmed since Monday.
Q: We want to register the fact that the disarmament is stalled.
A: You are asking the same question that has just been asked. On your first question I think you should be aware of all the agreements that have been reached in this country between the RUF and the Government of Sierra Leone, which includes the CDF, in which UNAMSIL played a sort of broker role.
There is the agreement on the 15th of May on disarmament. A second meeting was held to review that agreement on the second of June in Magburaka and a further meeting is going to be held very soon in the coming week probably to go over the next stage. So of course we have been working together on it.
Q: I understand there is a special Nigerian team here to investigate the shortcomings of the Nigerian contingent here. Can you throw light on that?
A: To investigate the shortcomings? No they are not here to investigate any shortcoming. They are rather here to see the good performance of our Nigerian contingent on the ground and to attend the Nigerian Medal Parade tomorrow in Port Loko.
Q: Given the pace at which the disarmament is running with regards to the problems you are discussing in terms of communication, I just want to know if the process will be completed before the December election so that we would be able to conduct the election.
A: First of all, I don't know that there are elections in December. I don't know if anybody has announced that there are elections in December. Secondly, we have a tripartite committee-UNAMSIL, the government and the RUF--and we are working out every stage of the disarmament process together. So it is not we who are dictating in the terms of the pace of the disarmament process. It is a process that we are all undertaking together, because we all want it to be a success.
Q: Recently 36 Guinean soldiers were released by the RUF. I want to know whether these people were part of UNAMSIL?
A: I don't know about any 36 Guinean soldiers.
Q: I'm interested in the statement you made about the progress in determining a legal diamond trade. I don't know how this assessment was made. If ever there were any progress like that, I think the government of Sierra Leone should have come up with a statement.
A: I think they have.
Q: It seems as if the information is coming from the other party.
A: Which other party?
Q: Like the UN or the sanction committee. I think if the government of Sierra Leone had made the statement it would have been boosted by whatever the sanction committee were going to tell us about the progress. But as of now we don't really know whether there is any progress or not in that light.
A: I believe that the government has made a statement on the increase of the quantity of diamonds exported because I have seen it myself in the newspapers.
The Security Council sanctions committee gathers information from everywhere and I'm quite sure that includes the government.
Q: You said the TRC workshop is going to take place in Makeni for the RUF. What about CDF because they are also part of the conflict? Do you have in mind any for them?
A: Our Human Rights section is doing TRC sensitization all over the country. The RUF specifically asked for them to come, so they were responding to that request. But they are doing it everywhere in the country.
Q: What progress have you made in investigating the alleged CDF attack on the RUF positions? Is the CDF stalling the disarmament?
A: The RUF, as I think I told you already, gave us reports on some alleged CDF attacks, which we are investigating. We are still investigating those attacks. In fact, yesterday when the Human Rights chief was in Makeni, they discussed these issues. They discussed ways that these attacks could actually be verified because as I explained before, they are in very remote areas of the country that were difficult to access. So they are still looking into that. I think Gibril Massaquoi has said that he is inviting some NGOs as well to look at the allegations concerning civilians who he said were killed in this attacks.
I don't think it is really useful for us to engage in who's been slowing the disarmament process. The point is that each party to the conflict has to disarm its combatants and that has been agreed by the leadership of both parties. So it is incumbent upon each one to make sure that their combatants enter the DDR process. We can't be finger-pointing and blaming. They each have to come forward and get their guys to come forward. So that is what we are trying to do, to discuss with the leadership and make sure that this happens.

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For additional information, contact UNAMSIL Public Information Office: UNAMSIL Headquarters, Mammy Yoko, P. O. Box 5, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Tel: 232-22-273-183/4/5 Fax: 232-22-273-189

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