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PRESS BRIEFING
FRIDAY, 20 APRIL 2001
MR. PATRICK COKER- ACTING UNAMSIL SPOKESMAN
AND MAJOR M. M. YERIMA - MILITARY SPOKESMAN
SECREATRY-GENERAL CONCERNED BY SECURITY, HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AT BORDERS BETWEEN GUINEA, LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE.
Against the backdrop of a disintegrating humanitarian and security situation at the borders between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 18 April urged the warring parties to meet to address the conflict's underlying causes.
In a statement read by the United Nations spokesman Fred Eckhard, the Secretary-General said he believed that the best way to stem the instability in the subregion was is through dialogue. The Secretary-General also said that he supported the recent call by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the three leaders of the Mano River Union countries to meet without further delay and devise ways to resolve the crisis peacefully.
The need for dialogue, the spokesman said, was underscored by the recent escalation of fighting in Lofa County in northern Liberia, which has caused the displacement of several thousand civilians
In Monrovia, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) confirmed on 18 April that there were movements of both Liberians and Sierra Leonean refugees who had spontaneously settled in Lofa. Some were crossing the border into eastern Sierra Leone, rather than into Guinea, where passage was impossible. According to UNHCR, the movement of the refugees, while not significant, started intensifying around 14 April.
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TO DELIVER A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE AFRICAN ON HIV/AIDS
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to deliver an opening statement at the next week's Summit meeting on infectious diseases in Abuja, Nigeria , outlining key priorities in the global fight against AIDS.
The African Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases, will be held on 26 and 27 April and will focus on Africa's leadership in reversing the alarming rate of infection of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related diseases on the continent.
Unlike ordinary summits of the OAU, this gathering will include the participation of different groups, including people living with HIV/AIDS, TB and other diseases. Africa's development partners will also be represented at the Summit.
The leaders are expected to endorse continent-wide plan for fighting AIDS in Africa. The plan -- formally known as the African Development Forum Consensus and Plan of Action -- was agreed to in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last December at a conference organized by Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The Addis Ababa-based Commission said the plan was expected to receive the full backing of leaders attending the Summit.
The plan articulates commitments made by African governments, the international community, civil society and other stakeholders to overcome the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Among other measures, it calls for a continental strategy for the care and treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS, including a determined pan-African approach to the affordability of drugs. It also stresses the need for the international community to mobilize the necessary resources to enable Africa to overcome the pandemic.
More than 20 Heads of State are expected to attend the Summit, which is being convened by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in collaboration with the Government of the Nigeria, ECA, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and other key partners. Other United Nations officials attending the Summit include UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Gro-Harlem Brundtland, ECA Executive Secretary K.Y. Amoako, and UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy.
UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS MALARIA
Responding to the growing threat posed by malaria, which causes over a million deaths a year, United Nations agencies and international partners on 18 April begun a two-day meeting in Washington, D.C., aimed at fighting the disease.
The Fourth Global Partnership Meeting to Roll Back Malaria, hosted by the World Bank, drew the participation of officials from 21 malaria-affected countries as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry, the private sector, foundations, research institutions, donors and UN agencies to agree on methods to expand existing malaria programmes.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, lauded the progress achieved so far through the Roll Back Malaria movement, but cautioned that much remains to be done, especially through the provision of additional resources. World Bank President James Wolfensohn called attention to the broader implications of the disease, pointing out that in many countries, malaria was now endangering development. "We need to work aggressively with local NGOs and with the private sector to fight malaria at the local level, and work with governments to scale up local programs into national strategies," he said.
According to WHO, malaria kills 3,000 children under 5 years of age, every day -- a death toll comparable to that of AIDS.
AMERICAN CONGRESS COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS VISITED FORCE COMMANDER
The professional staff on International Relations Committee of the American Congress paid a courtesy visit to Ag. Force Commander Maj. Gen. ML Agwai on 18 April 2001.The committee was led by Mr. Thomas Callanon and Dr. Pearl Alice Marsh in company of the American Ambassador to Sierra Leone and Defence Attache Bill Godbont. Mr. Callanon expressed his government commitment in assisting UNAMSIL achieve a lasting peace in Sierra Leone.
In his response, Maj. Gen. Agwai briefed the committee on the general security situation of the mission and the current deployment. The visit was instructive and helpful.
DELEGATION VISIT SECTOR 1 HEADQUATERS AT PORT LOKO
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Mr. Allan Doss, accompanied by a British delegation comprising the Secretary of State for International Development Ms Clare Short, the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone and the Secretary for Development on a visit to Sector 1 Headquarters at Port Loko on 19 April 2001. Also present during the visit were the French Ambassador in the Republic of Guinea, Mr. Denza, the Chief of Police, Sierra Leone, Mr. Keith Briddle and the Minister Northern Province, Hon. Ibrahim Sesse. They were received by the Sector Commander and the CO NIBATT 8 who briefed them on the security situation in the area. The team later visited the DDR and IDPs Camps.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Mr. Acting Spokesman, yesterday I interviewed Clare Short, it was a telephone interview. She said Britain is pleased by the recent deployment in Makeni and Magburaka. And at the same time, she went further to say UNAMSIL, United Nations is spending about half a billion U.S dollar in maintaining U.N troops in Sierra Leone and she believes that the process is still slow. What is your reaction to her statement?
A: UNAMSIL is here to do a job. UNAMSIL is doing the job it is here to do and we are doing it in the best way to justify our stay here.
Q: Can you give us an update of your deployment in Makeni and Magburaka?
A: The UNAMSIL deployment in Makeni and Magburaka occurred two days ago. The troops on the ground are carrying out their military duties, particularly they are digging in, positioning themselves in their defense position. They are doing what they are supposed to do militarily speaking. We do not have any negative reports so far from the two deployment points.
Q: Mr. Coker, I understand that RUF's position was attacked in Kono suspectedly by Government troops, Civil defense militia forces backed by their Guinean allies. I understand Omrie Golley has been expressing concerns regarding these latest developments. Can you just give us a clear-cut position of UNAMSIL vis-à-vis these developments?
A: Thank you for this information, I also picked up this information from a website as reported by some media. UNAMSIL is now deployed in the Mano junction. In all areas we are deployed we have not received these reports through our reporting channels. As soon as we get them, you will be informed. Of course, you know that any fighting now will be a violation of the cease-fire agreement. We do not have this in our reporting system and I cannot confirm that.
Q: You have been meeting with the RUF, getting contacts with them, particularly the RUF top-brass and you have already taken a patrol to places like Tongo fields. I'm sure if such is happening those contact groups, your own contact groups should have been informed by those top-brass, particularly in the Tongo fields. So I do not know whether you have got such a kind of information through the contact from your patrol unit and that of the top-brass RUF that you have been in contact with.
A: Yes, I agree with you that we have been meeting with the parties to the conflict, including the RUF through our contact groups. We have sent long-ranged patrols to places like Tongo Fields and Kailahun. We have not received the information you gave concerning any fighting.
Q: What has been the response of the RUF concerning your deployment both in Makeni and Lunsar?
A: From the response on the first day of deployment, which was accompanied by welcoming activities by the populace. I indeed spoke with the commanding officer of Nibatt-7 who informed me that he went to church, taking some of the commanders and combatants to church in Makeni. The service was conducted by Bishop Biguzi and one of the combatants remarked that it seems the peace is here, as he said he never consider himself going to church, to pray. So this is an indication that the relationship between peacekeepers and the RUF on the ground is good.
Q: Is it not an exaggeration to presume that the remaining 5,000 troops expected - that have already been promised - that they are going to put an end to the controversies over the holding of Kono and the diamond areas by the RUF?
A: You seem to be speculating. We have a mandate; we are pursuing the mandate vigorously. The strength of UNAMSIL has been increased; countries have made commitments. We are awaiting the arrival of commitments in forms of troops and equipment. As soon as they arrive in the mission area, they will be employed accordingly for the necessary assignments to which their countries have contributed them to the U.N. So if the troops come on the ground, based on situation assessment and other military factors, they would be employed accordingly. So we are expecting those troops very soon and we believe that they will be employed according to military and political decisions.
Q: It appears as if the 5,000 troops you are expecting are going to put an end to the controversy over the holding of the diamond area.
A: I do not want you to be drawn into these speculations. But let me give you an example. We had a deployment of Nibatt-7 at Lunsar, a couple of weeks ago. Today these same troops have been deployed in Makeni. When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it.
Q: I understand that when your troops deployed in Makeni and Magburaka, rebels started to bring arms to your troops. Can you shed light on that matter and have you got any confirmation from Lt. Col. Oladipo?
A: We believe the DDR program will commence and it will, the combatants will come with their weapons willingly.
Q: Are the RUF combatants carrying weapons side by side with the UN peacekeepers?
A: You will recall that some time ago we did mention to you that our contact groups are meeting with the RUF. Among the decisions that were taken, it was agreed that we have a 5-mile weapons free zone were RUF combatants are not to be seen with weapons. This is still in force; it was observed in Lunsar. I believe the same decision will be observed in Makeni and Magburaka.
Q: Do UNAMSIL and NEC (National Electoral Commission) have regular meetings? Have you assured NEC that come December you would have fully deployed throughout the country?
A: When the election will take place, the National Electoral Commission will pass that information to you. They have released a document, which is a strategy for the election taking place in this country and that document is detailed; it has taken care of almost all factors, including deployment around the country. You may wish to contact NEC for the document.
Q: I want to know if you have assured them that come December, you would have fully deployed countrywide.
A: Assuring NEC or not is not the issue. The issue is, UNAMSIL is doing what it is supposed to do based on the factors on the ground. NEC has outlined a strategy for election and they have considered deployment issues, among the factors. So everybody is working and we believe that we are working for the same goal, which is peace.
*********** 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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