FM: [Reading the joint communiqué between the Government of Chad and the United Nations]

Accueillant la visite au Tchad le 7 septembre de son Excellence Monsieur Ban Ki-moon, Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies ;

Soulignant la coopération actuelle entre le Gouvernement du Tchad et les Nations Unies ;

Exprimant leurs préoccupations face à l'insécurité et la situation humanitaire précaire prévalant dans la zone frontalière entre le Soudan, le Tchad, et la République centrafricaine (RCA), et à la menace qu'elles font peser sur les populations civiles, en particulier les réfugiés et personnes déplacées, ainsi que sur la conduite des opérations humanitaires ;

Accueillant les propositions pertinentes du Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies (rapport S/2007/488) relatives à la mission internationale dans l'Est du Tchad et au Nord-Est de la République centrafricaine, y compris la composante militaire à mettre en place par l'Union Européenne, propositions accueillies favorablement par le Conseil de sécurité dans sa déclaration présidentielle du 27 août 2007 (S/PRST/2007/30) ;

Se félicitant des récents efforts visant à renforcer le processus démocratique et le dialogue politique au Tchad, qui ont abouti notamment à la signature de l'Accord politique du 13 août 2007 ;

Prenant note de l'impact du conflit au Darfour sur les relations entre le Tchad et le Soudan et la situation sécuritaire dans l'Est du Tchad et encourageant la mise en ?uvre des accords de Tripoli et de Riyad et la poursuite de la normalisation des relations entre les deux pays, qui est cruciale pour l'amélioration de la situation sécuritaire au Darfour et dans l'Est du Tchad, ainsi que le retour volontaire des réfugiés et personnes déplacées dans leur lieux d'habitation d'origine ;

Le Gouvernement du Tchad :

Réitère son engagement envers la sécurité et la protection des populations civiles ;

S'engage à ?uvrer avec les Nations Unies et l'Union Européenne pour faciliter le déploiement rapide d'une présence internationale dans l'Est du Tchad et le Nord-Est de la République centrafricaine ;

Se félicite de la décision relative á la poursuite de pourparler de paix sur le Darfour, le 27 Octobre prochain, en Libye, sous la médiation des Nations Unies et de l'Union Africaine, et réitère son engagement à apporter son soutien au processus de paix ;

Reste déterminé d'une part à consolider le dialogue politique interne et d'autre part à poursuivre la concertation avec le Gouvernement du Soudan en vue de renforcer la normalisation des relations entre les deux pays.

Les Nations Unies :

Les Nations Unies réaffirment leur engagement à faire de leur mieux, en collaboration avec l'Union Européenne, pour déployer en temps voulu la présence internationale afin de contribuer à la protection des réfugiés, des personnes déplacées ainsi que des populations civiles à risque dans l'Est du Tchad et le Nord-Est de la République centrafricaine, ainsi que de faciliter la conduite des opérations humanitaires ;

Saluent la volonté du Gouvernement du Tchad de poursuivre son appui au processus de paix au Darfour ;

Réaffirment leur disponibilité à soutenir les efforts de dialogue en cours au Tchad et à assister les Gouvernements du Tchad et du Soudan dans la normalisation rapide de leurs relations et la stabilisation de la situation sécuritaire et humanitaire le long de leurs frontières communes.

SG: [Opening statement]

Mesdames et messieurs de la presse,

Je vien de boucler une journée de travail intense et suis satisfait des échanges que j'ai eus avec le Président de la République, Son Excellence Idriss Deby Itno, et avec l'équipe locale des Nations-Unies, y compris des répresentants de nos agences humanitaires. Je reviens d'une visite du Lac Tchad et alentours pour voir pour moi-meme les dégats environmentaux causés par la désertification et le rechauffement climatique. Mais, comme je l'ai dit, ma journée de travail ici a été tres intense. Donc si vous le permettez, je vais continuer en anglais.

With President Deby, we discussed the latest in the negotiation and consultations for the deployment of the multi-dimensional UN forces in close coordination with the European Union. We discussed how to expedite this process as well as to all the humanitarian issues that the deployment is meant to address. There are many refugees and IDPs along the border between Sudan and Chad, and there are political issues between Sudan and Chad, which need to reconcile their and strengthen their relationship. I thanked President Déby for lending the resources of his country and government to hosting and protecting refugees from both Sudan and the Central African Republic now on Chadian soil.

The humanitarian and security conditions along the border were also the subject of my conversation with the UN local staff. One of the goals of my visit here was to express my gratitude and solidarity to the UN staff here, who are working in often very difficult conditions. From them I got firsthand information. I am humbled by the challenges they face and the odds they brave every day to deliver life-saving assistance to populations in great need. To the UN staff, and to President Deby as well, I expressed my continued concerns about he humanitarian and security situation in eastern Chad and northeastern Central African Republic.

The Government and the people of Chad are also going through difficult times, notably with the regional consequences of the Darfur crisis. The United Nations is fully committed to supporting Chad and its Government's search for peaceful settlement of ongoing conflicts, which would allow people to return to their homes and communities in safety and security. These efforts can only succeed if peace and security prevail in the region. The two deployments –one in Darfur and a second one in eastern Chad and northeast CAR - would have a material impact on the security situation in the region.

I thank you for your attention. I will now take your questions.

Q: [in French, on why the international community elected to deploy a multidimensional force rather than United Nations peacekeeping troops in eastern Chad.]

FM: [answered in French.]

SG: Let me answer for my part. Ensuring security in this region is crucially important for development, political stability and humanitarian affairs.

In fact, as Secretary-General, I recommended earlier this year for the peace and stability in this region to deploy a peacekeeping operation. However in the course of consultations with the Chadian government and European partners, we agreed that we should deploy a multidimensional force here. I am quite sure that the purpose of the Chadian rebel groups is to see peace and development. It is in the interest of all parties concerned. Therefore I think it is absolutely necessary at this time to expedite this deployment of multinational, international forces.

Q: [on the status of pledges for the AU/UN hybrid force.]

SG: I am encouraged by a strong commitment by many countries. In fact, we have received enough commitments. Contributions are more than expected. However, in special areas like air transport and financial and administrative expertise, we need to have contributions from other, non-African countries. While we maintained primarily African Union in terms of composition of the forces, there is an understanding and agreement that in such areas there will be non-African Union [contributions]. We are expediting the composition of the forces.

Q: Secretary-General, you said [in your opening statement] and President Deby said to us this morning that you had discussed the planned Tripoli meeting and Chad has welcomed it. So what role will Chad play in the talks that you are going to be supervising in Libya on October?

SG: At the end of the Arusha meeting in early August the rebel groups' leaders wanted to have a seminar or preparatory meeting to have some common ground. I think it is necessary and it is good and I am grateful for the kind offer and flexibility of President Deby to host such a preparatory meeting before we are able to have formal political negotiations. On that occasion they will need to agree among themselves to find a common ground, and I am quite confident that the parties, particularly the Chadian government as a host, will be able to assist and facilitate such a process.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, and Mr. Foreign Minister, could the Foreign Minister explain to us and explain in a little more detail, why Chad took this initiative to hold this conference? What role do you think you can play and, Mr. Secretary-General, was there any discussion of a possible date or time and do you expect it to actually take place?

FM: [answered in French]

SG: I am convinced that Chad can make a good contribution, and I think that Chad had to do so before we begin the formal meeting. We should work toward that.

Q: [In French, on how to improve the protection of humanitarian workers in eastern Chad.]

SG: This has always been a concern of the United Nations and humanitarian workers, how to ensure a smooth delivery, without hindrance, [of humanitarian assistance.] There have been many cases where humanitarian workers were hampered, hindered, threatened. With the Sudanese government the United Nations has signed a joint communiqué. In my meetings with President Bashir and other leaders, I have received firm assurance to implement this joint communiqué. I sincerely hope they will reasonably ensure that they will continue to do this.

Thank you very much.