PRESS BRIEFING
13 NOVEMBER 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MS. MARGARET NOVICKI - UNAMSIL SPOKESMAN

FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM STARTS WITH PUTTING TREATIES INTO ACTION, UN SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL

The fight against terrorism must begin with ensuring that the dozen legal instruments on international terrorism adopted under UN auspices were signed, ratified and implemented "without delay," Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council yesterday as it began a ministerial-level meeting on the threats to peace caused by terrorists acts.

In his opening address, the Secretary-General said that while he understood and accepted the need for legal precision in defining terrorism, there was also a need for moral clarity. "There can be no acceptance of those who seek to justify the deliberate taking of innocent civilian life, regardless of cause or grievance," he said.

Mr. Annan also called for the strengthening of global norms against the use or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as any types of weapons - such as small arms and landmines - that "pose grave dangers through terrorist use."

Ultimately, the world community's success would be measured in terrorist acts thwarted and lives saved, Mr. Annan said, "but I am confident that the unity born of 11 September can be sustained in the months and years ahead."

Convened on the initiative of Ukraine, the meeting was chaired by Minister K.D. Knight of Jamaica, which holds the Council presidency for the month of November. Foreign ministers from the Council's other 14 members took part in the debate, which culminated in the unanimous adoption of a resolution calling on all States to take urgent steps in the fight against terrorism.

Declaring terrorists acts to be one of the most serious threats to international peace and security in the 21st century, the United Nations Security Council called on all countries to intensify their efforts to eliminate the scourge of terrorism.

The Council called for countries to take "urgent steps" to put into action its resolution 1373 adopted on 28 September, which spelled out wide-ranging strategies to combat international terrorism and which also set up a committee to monitor its implementation.

The Council underscored that under resolution 1373, Member States had obligations "to deny financial and all other forms of support and safe haven to terrorists and those supporting terrorism."

Yesterday's resolution also welcomed the commitment expressed by States "to fight the scourge of international terrorism," and called on them to become parties as soon as possible to the relevant international conventions and protocols relating to international terrorism.

The Council also affirmed that a "sustained, comprehensive approach" involving the entire participation and collaboration of all UN Member States was essential to fighting terrorism, stressing that further international efforts to address global issues such as poverty, regional conflicts, sustainable development and environmental protection would contribute to international cooperation and collaboration, and also play a role in the effort against terrorism.

SRSG OPENS NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, today appealed to Sierra Leoneans to emphasize what can be achieved collectively rather than what one particular constituency can gain from the National Consultative Conference.

Opening the National Consultative Conference in Freetown, the SRSG reviewed the history and the current status of the peace process, noting that the completion of the disarmament exercise would facilitate extension of Government authority and the deployment of Sierra Leone police throughout the country. He pointed out that with UNAMSIL's deployment throughout the country, the resulting conducive environment has enabled the convening of national consultations on the political future of Sierra Leone.

The SRSG told the gathering that as the country moved from the essentially military aspects of the peace process to the primarily political realm, especially those geared towards the consolidation of democracy, UNAMSIL would continue to offer its assistance. He said the Security Council and ECOWAS would feel comfortable if they were assured that their assistance is rooted in a national consensus on the way forward.

He emphasized that the success of the national consultative conference "depends not only on the range of constituencies involved, but also the extent to which the conference is focused, as well as by the civility of the exchanges the conference generates." Such a conference will be judged by the seeds it leaves behind for the germination of democratic values, he said, adding that the conference's outcome must be weighed strictly in terms of its national relevance.

Over 250 delegates from different parts of the country, including representatives of government, political parties and civil society groups, were expected to participated in the three-day meeting, entitled, "National Consultative Conference on Peace and Democracy: The Way Forward." The meeting was organized by the National Commission for Democracy and Human Rights in collaboration with other organizations to chart a way forward for democracy and development in a post-war Sierra Leone.

DONORS SUPPORT KONO RECOVERY STRATEGY

A donors' round-table meeting on 9 November expressed its commitment to support humanitarian and economic needs as well as the restoration of civil authority in Sierra Leone's diamond-rich district of Kono.

Delegates at the meeting discussed the report commissioned by the National Recovery Committee to assess the immediate needs of the district. The report was prepared following an assessment mission to the district from 25-27 September, led by the Government of Sierra Leone and assisted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, non-governmental organizations (NGO) and UN agencies, as well as the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

Addressing the meeting held in Freetown yesterday, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Governance and Stabilization, Mr. Alan Doss, who is also the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Sierra Leone, said that UNDP will provide small grants as start-up funds for District (Management) Recovery Committees to ensure their effectiveness. Additional funds will be channeled towards providing capacity support to returning government officials.

Mr. Doss also disclosed that UNAMSIL's civilian police will set up police committees in Kono to assist the Sierra Leone Police in carrying out their work, while its Civil Affairs staff will help to restore the district administration.

In his keynote address, Vice President Albert Joe Demby, who also chairs the National Recovery Committee, noted the strategic importance of Kono District, and pointed out that its recovery was an important step in the overall economic recovery of Sierra Leone. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Okere Adams, reminded the delegates that Kono was not only endowed with diamonds, but also with rich agricultural land.

A representative of the British Department for International Development (DFID) said his department would support plans to accelerate the restoration of paramount chiefs in the district. He also explained the importance of providing shelter for returnees and internally displaced persons in Kono, a sentiment shared by NGOs and the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning. A European Union delegate pledged to support the rehabilitation of roads and resettlement plans in agriculture, education and health. The Deputy Minister of Finance pledged the Government's commitment to the recovery process, explaining that debt relief over the next three years had freed up a considerable amount of revenue for additional government expenditure.

In its report, the needs assessment team noted that Kono has suffered from considerable devastation and along with the eastern district of Kailahun, has experienced the greatest level of displacement, with its population currently living in camps and host communities throughout the country.

The team reported an improved security situation in the area as a result of the deployment of UNAMSIL peacekeepers, the completion of disarmament and the recent deployment of the Sierra Leone Police. This in turn has led to the spontaneous return of people to the district.

Delegates at the meeting pledged to work together in identifying critical priority areas and to work in a coordinated fashion, through the NRC, in raising funds for Sierra Leone's recovery. Mr. Doss noted that such support was a vital element in the UN's peace-building work in Sierra Leone. "Sierra Leoneans can now begin to see the tangible benefits of peace," he said.

UNAMSILWEAPONS DESTRUCTION EXERCISE IN FREETOWN TO BE DELAYED

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has postponed the commencement of the second phase of its weapons destruction exercise in Freetown while arrangements are being made for some symbolic acts of destruction.

Over 7,600 weapons recovered by UNAMSIL during the disarmament process and held in different locations around the country, will be destroyed. The exercise will be carried out with the assistance of GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) and MAPCO.

UNAMSIL FORCE COMMANDER MEETS WITH VISITING UKRAINIAN MILITARY DELEGATION

A seven-member Ukrainian military delegation which is in the country to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash of a United Nations helicopter on 7 November yesterday met with the Force Commander of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande.

In brief remarks at the beginning of the meeting, the Force Commander said the accident was a tragedy not only to the Ukrainian Government, but also to all peacekeepers throughout the world. He noted that the task of investigating the incident was not going to be easy, but UNAMSIL would provide the delegation with all necessary assistance. Lt. Gen. Opande commended the professional expertise of the Ukrainian pilots serving with UNAMSIL. He encouraged the investigating team to do a thorough job, so that the world would get to know what actually happened.

The delegation, led by Maj. Gen. Y. Barashkin, thanked UNAMSIL, the Government of Sierra Leone, the U.S. Embassy and all those who contributed in recovering some of the bodies of the deceased.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: What is the reason behind the delay in the destruction of weapons collected from combatants?

Ms. Margaret Novicki: As I just explained, we are going to be holding a symbolic destruction of weapons ceremony and arrangements are under way for that. That's why it has been delayed.

Q: Is UNAMSIL going to be involved in the collection of shotguns (not covered by the regular disarmament) from the community from15 November to 31 December?

Novicki: That process will be carried out by the Government of Sierra Leone. I don't know at this time the role UNAMSIL will be playing in the process. I will give you the information when our role has been clarified.

Q: What is the total number of weapons you have for destruction?

Novicki: There is a total of over 7,600 arms that have been collected.

Q: What are the disarmament figures for the Western Area?

Novicki: In the Western Area: From 2 November through 10 November, a total of 1,062 CDF have disarmed.

Q: What are the total disarmament figures for the Tonkolili District?

Novicki: Tonkolili District: 2,025 combatants, of which RUF is 776 and CDF 1,249. The overall disarmament for the country from January through yesterday, 12 November is 31,581 combatants, of whom 3,655 are children. Of the total, 10,976 are RUF, 214 are ex- SLA, 20,111 are CDF, 264 are AFRC and 16 are others.

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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