PRESS BRIEFING
1st May 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MR. PATRICK COKER- ACTING UNAMSIL SPOKESMAN
AND MAJOR M. M. YERIMA - MILITARY SPOKESMAN

SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPORT ON CLOSURE OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS RELEASED

A critical hindrance to the successful completion of UN peacekeeping missions is a lack of funding for activities such as demobilization and reintegration, and boundary commissions, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has written in a report issued yesterday on the closure of United Nations peace operations.

Although such programmes are not part of the official peacekeeping operation, the success of United Nations missions often depends on those activities, the Secretary-General has written in his report, which was commissioned by the Security Council following its critical examination last November of how and why it decides to end United Nations missions.

According to the report, discussions on whether to exit or significantly alter a peacekeeping operation may be prompted by three circumstances: successful completion of the mandate, failure or partial success. "Any decision [to close a peacekeeping mission] would appear to be influenced by success or failure as judged in relation to the mandate given to the operation by the Council," the report says. "However, it is in the grey area between clear success and failure that a decision becomes complex."

Sometimes, persevering with a United Nations presence under adverse circumstances might be the "least bad" option, while at other times, "a peacekeeping operation is the wrong instrument if the parties are bent on war and its presence may become a hindrance to conflict resolution," the Secretary-General writes.

The report also studies the exit strategies that United Nations peacekeepers have pursued in relative successes, like El Salvador and Mozambique; failures, like Angola and Somalia; and partial successes, like Haiti.

SRSG ADENIJI LEAVES FOR ABUJA

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, left Freetown for Abuja, Nigeria, on 29 April to participate in the Fourth Meeting of the United Nations-Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-Government of Sierra Leone Coordination Mechanism on 30 April and the first meeting to review implementation of the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement today, 1 May. The RUF delegation departed Lungi to Abuja this morning on an aircraft provided by the Government of Nigeria.

Yesterday's meeting involved consultations on the peace process between Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone, with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) participating in an observer capacity.

Today, representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, the RUF and UNAMSIL, in the presence of ECOWAS, will conduct an assessment of the implementation of the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement itself.

UNAMSIL OPENS HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN KENEMA

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) is set to open a new human rights office in the eastern part of the country to promote the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and to help instill a culture of human rights.

In addition to promoting the work of the TRC, the new office will discharge a range of activities including training, monitoring and reporting human rights abuses, and raising public awareness on human rights issues and international humanitarian principles.

During the opening ceremony on 2 May, addresses are expected to be made by Alan Doss, the UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Governance and Stabilization, and Rodolfo Mattarollo, chief of the UN Mission's Human Rights Section.

UNAMSIL FACILITATES EDUCATION ASSESSMENT MISSIONS

Yesterday, UNAMSIL facilitated the visits of the Ministry of Education assessment missions to Lunsar, Makeni and Magburaka. The team that went to Lunsar examined the requirements for rehabilitating the school system, while the second team that traveled to Makeni and Magburaka discussed with an RUF official responsible for education arrangements for conducting the National Primary School Examination in the two towns on 11 May. As a result of the discussion, two Ministry of Education officials have been deployed to Makeni and Magburaka until the examinations are completed.

NIBATT 5 DONATES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

The officers and men of NIBATT 5, on 26 April, donated food supplies, including rice, gari, sugar, sardines, tea, coffee and tomato paste to the communities living within their area of responsibility at Goderich, as part of UNAMSIL's peace-building efforts.

The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Behrooz Sadry, was the guest of honour at the ceremony. Other officials in attendance included the Acting Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Martin L. Agwai, and the Sector 2 Commander, Brig. Gen. J Kasson.

In his brief welcome remarks, the Commanding Officer of NIBATT 5 said that this was the second donation by the unit in as many months. In March, the unit donated food and medicines to secondary schools in the area.

The Acting Force Commander said that the donations were indicative of the cooperation between NIBATT 5 and the communities in their area of responsibility and requested them to maintain the relationship. He noted that the donations would assist the internally displaced persons as they tried to pick up the pieces of their lives and rebuild their futures.

The DSRSG noted that the soldiers form part of the community in which they serve and that it was hugely encouraging to see members of NIBATT 5 sacrificing in order to make the community comfortable. He commended NIBATT 5 in particular and the Nigerian Contingent in general for their generosity, discipline and devotion to duty while in the mission area.

On behalf of the recipient communities, Chief Alimamy Sessay, acknowledged the sacrifices members of NIBATT 5, as well as UNAMSIL, had made in order to restore peace in Sierra Leone and for the donations that they had just received.

SECTOR 2 DONATES CASH TO CHURCH

The Christians of Sector 2 Headquarters, who are among the congregants at the Christian in Action Church, Aberdeen, made a cash donation of Le 1,860,000 (One million eight hundred and sixty thousand) on 26 April as a token of their fellowship in the church for the past six months. The soldiers made the donation as they were leaving the mission area on completion of their tour of duty.

Presenting the donation, Sector 2 Commander Brig. Gen. J Kasson said the donation was unique in that it contributed towards the spiritual nourishment of the people. It also depicted the Christian concern for the well-being of fellow man. If such concern was expressed in deeds by all men, the chaos and hostilities that have been witnessed in the past ten years in Sierra Leone would not have occurred.

Pastor Arthur Daniel, who received the donation on behalf of the church, thanked the soldiers for denying themselves some comfort to assist the church to buy a public address system.

NINETY-TWO UNAMSIL MILITARY OBSERVERS DECORATED

Ninety-two UNAMSIL Military Observers (MILOBs) from 17 countries received peace medals for having successfully completed three months serving in the mission. Chief Military Personnel and Logistics Officer Lt. Col. Thomas led the MILOBs for the medal parade ceremony that took place in Freetown on 28 April. The Chief Military Observer, Brig.Gen. Isa Chisuzi, his deputy, Col. Charles Mankatah, and the Chief of Staff of MILOBs, Col. Peter Murray Babbington, presented 59 medals to those who were able to attend the ceremony. The remaining 32 observers are to be decorated at a later date. The countries includeBangladesh, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden Thailand, UK, and Uruguay.

UNAMSIL TO MARK WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY WITH PANEL DISCUSSIONS

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) will host a panel discussion on Radio UNAMSIL on 3 May to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Participants in the panel discussion, to be hosted by the Chief of UNAMSIL's Public Information Section, Margaret Novicki, will include leading Sierra Leonean journalists.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: What do you think might be the major demands of the RUF at the ongoing Abuja peace talks?

A: I'm not going to speculate on what would be the demands of the RUF at the "ongoing peace talks." First of all the Abuja meeting is not "peace talks." It is a ceasefire review meeting. So what the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF and UNAMSIL will be doing is examining how the Government of Sierra Leone and how the RUF have implemented the agreement they signed on 10 November.

Q: Gibril Massaquoi has said that if UNAMSIL doesn't stop the fighting that is ongoing now in the country, you will not be allowed further deployment. What's your comment ?

A: Gibril Massaquoi, I believe, has been misquoted because I called him to confirm the statement. He said what he meant by that is there are some terms and conditions that they gave United Nations about some violations here and there, those issues have to be addressed before we go on. And I think those issues are been addressed now. And they are going to discuss those issues in Abuja.

Q: The last press conference we with had with the Acting Force Commander, he disclosed to us that a patrol of UNAMSIL left for Tongo Field after his visits to Koidu town in Kono. Was there any sign of fighting between the RUF and the CDF? And yesterday again the leader of the Political Peace Council Omrie Golley said the situation at present does not seem to be conducive because of fighting going on and frequent attacks by Kamajors. If I could understand it yesterday he was trying to say there is a violation, which they would have to take to the Abuja Ceasefire review meeting. So, I just want you to explain these two things.

A: In response to your second comment, I think it's obvious that the Abuja meeting today is going to examine all allegations made by both the RUF and the Government with regard to what has been taken place over the past couple weeks. So I think the timing actually is quite good for a review of Abuja Ceasefire Agreement.

Sector 3 took a patrol to Tongo, and they went and came back and reported that there was nothing going on there in Tongo at the moment.

Q: No fighting?

A: No fighting going on in Tongo.

Q: According to the Ceasefire Agreement, it was noted that after 30 days if UNAMSIL sees it fit, they can call on all parties involved in the conflict and make an assessment. Why was it there a prolongation of time, until now that UNAMSIL is calling for this Ceasefire Agreement review?

A: I have answered this question many times. The agreement says "after 30 days," the two parties to the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement - the RUF and the Government of Sierra Leone - should review its implementation. The review meeting has been scheduled for some time, and it is taking place today.

Q: UNAMSIL, the Government and RUF are on their way now on the Abuja Agreement review, and now there is fighting going on in Kono. I want to know whether UNAMSIL has established any contact with the fighting forces there to sort of establish a ceasefire so as to allow for a peaceful review.

A: I'm not sure what your question is, but as you are aware UNAMSIL has been conducting investigations into allegations that have been made regarding situation in Kono. And the meeting that is being held today will hear both sides and will make an assessment of the implementation by the two parties to the agreement.

Q: What is going to be the composition of this Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the commission that has already been opened in Kenema?

A: No, the Human Rights Section is opening an office in Kenema tomorrow.

Q: If that is the case what is going to be the composition of that particular office in case somebody really violates a particular rule of that particular commission now?

A: I think you are confusing two issues here. The Human Rights Section of UNAMSIL looks at all the different aspects related to human rights in this country. Among them is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that is in the process of being drawn up. We have received nominations for international and national persons to serve on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission when it is established. As I said, the Human Rights Office in Kenema will monitor the human rights situation in that area, will report back to our office here, and will try to assist in building a culture of respect for human rights.

Q: The presence of UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone has been a big relief to Sierra Leoneans. And here in the first paragraph of this press release I see something about the Secretary-General's report on closure of peacekeeping operations. I want to know how this thing came about and whether it will affect your mission here.

A: The United Nations has been undergoing for some time an in-depth examination of all aspect of peacekeeping operations. There was a very important report that was commissioned by the Secretary-General, the Brahimi report, that tried to try to learn lessons from the experiences that the United Nations has undergone in peacekeeping missions around the world and to provide recommendations for how the United Nations can improve its peacekeeping operations in all areas. So this new report that has been issued comes out of that background of the United Nations taking a very self-critical look at how it conducts peacekeeping. And his report is focusing specifically on how peacekeeping missions conclude--how they are brought to an end and under what circumstances. It's all part of the very healthy process that has been launched by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to look at the work of the United Nations in all its facets, to be self-critical, to make examinations and to make recommendations for the future in order to improve the work that we do as a world organization. .

Q: Just a few days ago, UNAMSIL was saying that the incident in Tongo was being investigated by them. And only yesterday again we heard Omrie Golley saying that in fact he was sure that when UNAMSIL does make its reports known, it would find that the government has been responsible for violating the ceasefire in Tongo. Do we expect any word from UNAMSIL at this important meeting in Abuja?

A: The meeting is taking place today. I think we can all be patient until tomorrow and find out what the outcome of the meeting will be. I can't predict.

Q: When the SRSG was here he said that the first part of the agreement dealt with military issues, that is talking about the ceasefire and that sort of thing, and that this next part of the meeting would be involved with the political issues. Do you know anything about the agenda, about discussing not only reviewing the military aspect the ceasefire, but discussing the political issues like the future of the RUF party, the release of Foday Sankoh? Would those things be discussed?

A: I don't have an agenda for the meeting. There is no agenda that I know of that has been drawn up in advance of the meeting. In yesterday's discussion, in all likelihood an agenda for today would have been drawn up, but I have not seen it.

But you will agree with me that if you look carefully at the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement, there are a number of terms in it that go beyond a simple cessation of hostilities. All the aspects in the Abuja ceasefire agreement will be reviewed. If those discussions lead to other areas, that's their prerogative.

Q: In your own experience as somebody who is speaking on behalf of the peacekeepers here militarily, what would you say is the present situation about looking into the ceasefire agreement? What would you say presently?

A: I don't have a personal opinion. But all I know is that the situation is generally calm and that we are progressing.

I think honestly to be fair, let the meeting take place today and then we can ask questions afterwards. We can't predict what will take place at the meeting today, but I'm sure by the end of today we will have some indications.

Q: Is it true that the Nigerians are threatened to pull out of UNAMSIL?

A: It is not true.

Q: How soon are we expecting the Pakistanis?

A: In the near future.

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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