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PRESS BRIEFING
20 JULY 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MARGARET NOVICKI - UNAMSIL SPOKESMAN
TALKS INTENSIFY AS UN FORUM ON ILLICIT TRADE OF SMALL ARMS ENTERS FINAL STRETCHWith a United Nations forum on the illegal trade in small arms entering its final stretch, UN officials said in New York yesterday, 19 July, that intensive negotiations on a global action plan were yielding results but more work needed to be done to resolve differences on parts of the text.
The United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects "again went into a night session last evening, as negotiations intensified on the revised Programme of Action," spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters at UN Headquarters. "Considerable progress has been made, but there are still a number of paragraphs to be agreed on."
UN disarmament officials told the UN News Service that the talks had reached their crux, with negotiators aiming to tackle the most difficult issues before the close of the two-week forum on Friday.
The Conference President, Ambassador Camilo Reyes of Colombia, is scheduled to report on the results of the talks tomorrow at noon.
Among the side events at the conference, a gun sculpture exhibit, "Transforming Arms into Ploughshares," opened yesterday at UN Headquarters featuring works made from parts of weapons used during Mozambique's civil war.
ANNAN SAYS UN TO DEVELOP COORDINATED EFFORTS TO BETTER PROTECT CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT
Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday, 19 July, said that he has asked two United Nations departments to develop a plan to better coordinate efforts within the world body in the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
In a letter to the President of the Security Council released yesterday in New York, the Secretary-General says he has asked the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to develop operational procedures jointly with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) to enhance cooperation between the different parts of the UN system.
The Secretary-General adds that beginning this November he will report regularly to the Security Council on the status of initiatives concerning civilians in armed conflict.
Mr. Annan's letter was in response to the Council's suggestions last month of several practical steps for implementing the recommendations contained in two previous reports by the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
GOVERNMENT AND RUF AGREE ON RESUMPTION OF KONO DISARMAMENT
The third meeting of the Joint Committee on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), comprising the Government of Sierra Leone, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), meeting on 17 July in the southern town of Bo, agreed to a series of measures to address ongoing ceasefire violations in the Kono District, including the immediate resumption of the DDR process.
In a communiqué signed by Mr. Solomon Berewa, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, and Mr. Omrie Golley, Chairman of the RUF's Political and Peace Council, and witnessed by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, the Government and the RUF agreed that disarmament in Kono District would resume as of 18 July with a view to completing the process in that area by 31 July.
The parties further agreed that all checkpoints erected by the RUF or Civil Defence Force (CDF) in Kono District will be dismantled as of 18 July. In order to allow a smooth completion of the disarmament process, a total moratorium on all mining activities in Kono District will also come into force as of 18 July. No combatants will be allowed to carry weapons except on their way to reception centers under the supervision of their commanders, to prevent future clashes between armed combatants in the district.
A joint committee comprising representatives of the CDF, the RUF and UNAMSIL will be established on the ground to monitor implementation of the agreement reached on 17 July. The meeting also agreed on the next steps and locations for the disarmament process country-wide.
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITS KONO
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, accompanied by Deputy Force Commander Maj. Gen. Martin Agwai, traveled to Kono District on 18 July as a follow-up to the meeting on 17 July of the Tripartite Committee on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR).
The communiqué, signed at the meeting in Bo by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the Government of Sierra Leone, called for an immediate resumption of disarmament in Kono District. It also called for the dismantling of all checkpoints and a moratorium on diamond mining in an effort to reduce tensions in the area.
The SRSG visited the Yengema DDR center to assess its state of readiness to receive disarmed combatants. He was shown the provisions that the National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration has put in place to receive the ex-combatants. He also witnessed the first group of demobilized ex-combatants preparing to be discharged from the center.
In Koidu, at the Bangladeshi peacekeepers' headquarters, he met with RUF interim leader Gen. Issa Sesay and local Civil Defence Force (CDF) commanders, and discussed with them the provisions of the Bo agreement and the need for the commanders to mobilize their combatants on the ground to disarm. Gen. Sesay and CDF Commander Batten pledged their cooperation and commitment to the disarmament process.
DISARMAMENT RESUMES IN KONO DISTRICT
Disarmament resumed yesterday, 19 July, in the diamond-rich Kono District as 67 combatants from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and 16 Civil Defence Force (CDF) fighters handed in their weapons to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) at locations on the outskirts of Koidu.
Disarmament began yesterday during a visit to the area by a team led by UNAMSIL's Deputy Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, the interim RUF leader, Gen. Issa Sesay, and Mr. Omrie Golley, Chairman of the RUF's Political and Peace Council, as well as a CDF delegation headed by Paramount Chief P.C. Kongoba and including several other local chiefs and CDF field commanders.
Following discussions the previous day, 18 July, in Koidu between the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, Gen. Sesay, and CDF field commanders, it was agreed that disarmament would take place at RUF and CDF locations where there had been tensions since Monday.
Addressing the RUF and CDF leadership yesterday on the implementation of the agreement reached on 17 July in the southern town of Bo, the Deputy Force Commander decried the slow pace at which disarmament was taking place in the area. He exhorted leaders of the two parties to match their words of commitment with action on the ground.
Maj. Gen. Agwai and RUF and CDF representatives return to Kono District today to continue the disarmament exercise.
RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DELEGATION MEETS WITH UNAMSIL FORCE COMMANDER
A five-man delegation from the Russian Ministry of Defence, led by the Chief of Defence Staff of Russian Army Aviation, Lt. Gen. Kashitsin Eugenyi, paid a courtesy call on 18 July on the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande.
The delegation is in Sierra Leone to visit Russian peacekeepers serving with UNAMSIL and to attend a medal parade in honour of members of the Russian Aviation Unit to be held at Lungi Airport on 21 July.
The Force Commander briefed the delegation on the current security situation in the country. He thanked Russia for providing UNAMSIL with professional and experienced pilots and technicians, and praised the pilots for their dedication and endurance during troop rotations when they are called upon to work long hours.
In his response, Lt. Gen. Eugenyi said he would inspect the Russian Aviation Unit deployed with UNAMSIL and see what could be done to enhance its output.
BRITISH MILOBS PRESENT GIFTS TO CHILD EX-COMBATANTS AT ST. MICHAELS
As part of UNAMSIL's peacebuilding efforts, Squadron Leader Davy Johnston, a Military Observer from the UK, recently made a presentation of cups, rulers, pens, pencils and other items to child ex-combatants of St. Michaels Lodge interim care center at Lakka Beach, near Freetown.
The items had been used for military recruitment purposes in the UK, but due to a squadron renumbering, had become out of date. The Royal Air Force transported the items to Sierra Leone at no cost.
The items will now be used to promote the schooling of the child ex-combatants.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: In your statement you said that they have resumed disarmament process in Kono. Did it at anytime come to a halt?
A: Yes, it did. The disarmament started in Kono district on the 2nd July with 30 RUF and 8 CDF. Then for three days there was no disarmament, then on the 6th July it picked up a little bit and on the 7th July picked up again and then it was a trickle. And then on the 17 and 18 July, there was no one who disarmed. Yesterday it resumed.
Q: In cases of violation of the provisions of the CDF-RUF-UNAMSIL communiqué signed in Bo, what steps would UNAMSIL take to forestall such actions?
A: When violations are reported to us by either the RUF or the CDF, what we do is investigate those violations. We then issue our findings and then it is up to the leadership of those movements to do something about stopping the violations. Both the government and the RUF have signed all these agreements, they have pledged to stop hostilities, they have pledged to disarm their forces. So it's up to them to see to it that their combatants on the ground uphold the agreements.
Q: In your interview with the BBC, you indicated that there is a problem of command within CDF on the ground in Kono. What are you doing to put them under a better command structure?
A: Of course, it's not for us to put the CDF under a command structure. I think part of the problem in the Kono district is the fact that the district is large, the roads are not good, transportation is a problem. CDF combatants are located in a lot of different areas around and it is up to their commanders to see to it that their combatants get the messages that their leadership have agreed to recommence disarmament right away. It's really up to the leadership.
Q: What are the impressions of those monitoring the cessation of all mining activities in the Kono district as recommended by the Bo communiqué?
A: The agreement that was signed in Bo called for the setting up of a joint committee composed of UNAMSIL, CDF and RUF. The CDF and RUF have made nominations of persons to serve on this committee. These are persons located actually in Kono district, as well as our troops who are located in the Kono district. This committee is just in the process of being formulated, because when I was in Kono the day before yesterday, they were just submitting the names and they have to have their first meeting to look at how they are going to monitor the Bo agreement.
Q: What is the update on your investigations concerning an alleged attack on RUF position by CDF in the Koinadugu district?
A: There have been reports to us of series of attacks in the Kono district. Some of them we have been able to confirm, but we have not been able to confirm all of them, again because some of the locations are very far away and roads and places are not accessible. We have confirmed some ceasefire violations on the part of the CDF.
Q: What is the total disarmament for Kono as of 2nd July 2001?
A: The total disarmament for the Kono district from the 2nd July is 115 RUF and 136 CDF.
Q: What is UNAMSIL troop strength in Kono district? Does UNAMSIL have the capacity to enforce a moratorium on mining activities in the Kono district?
A: We have Bangladeshi peacekeepers on the ground in Koidu-two companies strong. We are at moment receiving the first battle group of the Pakistani contingent. We have an advance party of Pakistanis who are already located in Yengema in the Kono district and some of the first battle group left yesterday for Magburaka. More are going directly to Magburaka today where they will join up with their equipment. As you can imagine, when you move a large number of troops, they have a lot of equipment that has to be brought in and put on the ground. That is in the process of happening now. Additional Pakistani troops are going to be deployed in the Kono district. Nonetheless, the troops that we have on the ground in Kono have been very active in trying to calm tension on the ground. I think they have been very effective.
On your second question, it is not up to UNAMSIL to enforce a diamond moratorium. This diamond moratorium was agreed to by the parties to the conflict -- RUF and the government of Sierra Leone -- in a meeting in Bo. So it is up to them to tell their fighters on the ground to stop mining diamonds. As you know it's not only the RUF and CDF that are mining diamonds. Civilians are also mining diamonds in Kono. This is a good opportunity now for the diamond resources to be regulated for the benefit of the whole nation.
Q: What's the situation like in Kayima?
A: What we found was a report by the RUF that Kayima was attacked by the CDF. We have not been able yet to confirm that report.
Q: Can you confirm Guinean troops artillery attack in Kailahun district on the Liberia-Sierra Leone border? Are you aware of these attacks?
A: Yes we are aware.
Q: How optimistic is UNAMSIL that the RUF and the CDF will disarm by July 31?
A: We are optimistic because we have the commitment of the leadership. The government and the RUF leadership have committed themselves to this disarmament process and we believe that they have done so in good faith and we expect that on the ground they would send the messages to the combatants to disarm. Let me give you an example of what happened yesterday in Kono. Gen. Issa Sesay himself was on the ground and brought his combatants in personally to disarm. That's the level of commitment we are looking for. He brought in 67 combatants himself and they were disarmed.
Q: When did you get this report that Kayima was been attacked?
A: We got the report on Wednesday.
*********** 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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