Friday
Mar202009
Update from UN Spokesperson on piracy and security in Somalia
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 12:48PM
Today, the United Nations Security Council heard from a long list of member states on piracy in Somalia. The Council reviewed reports on bringing the country back from the brink of disaster. The Djibouti agreement was cited as the helpful path out of the crisis and conflict. The agreement underscores through the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and the Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) to, "ensure the cessation of all armed confrontation and a political settlement for a durable peace; promote a peaceful environment; avoid a security vacuum; facilitate the protection of the population and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance and call for the convening of a reconstruction and development."
The agreement also emphasizes that a whole generation of young people and adults have been sacrificed or denied education and development. The humanitarian situation is continuously deteriorating throughout the country. At the same time, the country’s international image and standing have been seriously undermined due to piracy off the Somali coasts. Eighteen years of war and conflict have not brought peace or stability and member states including the Untied Kingdom, Mexico, Burkina Faso, United States, France, Japan and China among others gathered to promote the Djibouti agreement. The main goal of the session was to ensure the territorial integrity of Somalia while protecting civilians from corruption, piracy and rebel groups. The Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, stated to Council members that "an integrative approach and large resources remain for Somalia. Timely and effective disbursement should be done effectively and by transparent means. On piracy, it is an offshore repletion. But the naval presence is a good opportunity to protect our coasts."
The Security Council has also scheduled an open meeting on Darfur for today. The government of Sudan and the United Nations finished assessments on Darfur and the review report states 16 NGO's have been kicked out of the country due to the call for Al-Bashir's arrest by the International Criminal Court. The main concerns now are water, sanitation, hygiene, food aid and non-food items and shelter. The review will be public on March 22nd.
On Afghanistan, the Special Representative for the country briefed the Security Council yesterday. There will be a meeting held on Afghanistan in the Hague at the end of this month. The Special Representative stated countries need to work to end the "doom and gloom atmosphere" in his country.
On the DR CONGO, there was a resumption of civilians displaced as rebel Hutu groups known as the FDLR have continued attacks on villages in North Kivu. UN Spokesperson Montas stated these attacks have not halted the return of FDLR troops back to Rwanda under a joint agreement signed by the two parties early this year.
A nuclear weapon free zone in Central Asia pact has been ratified today by all five Asian states including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The agreement also emphasizes that a whole generation of young people and adults have been sacrificed or denied education and development. The humanitarian situation is continuously deteriorating throughout the country. At the same time, the country’s international image and standing have been seriously undermined due to piracy off the Somali coasts. Eighteen years of war and conflict have not brought peace or stability and member states including the Untied Kingdom, Mexico, Burkina Faso, United States, France, Japan and China among others gathered to promote the Djibouti agreement. The main goal of the session was to ensure the territorial integrity of Somalia while protecting civilians from corruption, piracy and rebel groups. The Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, stated to Council members that "an integrative approach and large resources remain for Somalia. Timely and effective disbursement should be done effectively and by transparent means. On piracy, it is an offshore repletion. But the naval presence is a good opportunity to protect our coasts."
The Security Council has also scheduled an open meeting on Darfur for today. The government of Sudan and the United Nations finished assessments on Darfur and the review report states 16 NGO's have been kicked out of the country due to the call for Al-Bashir's arrest by the International Criminal Court. The main concerns now are water, sanitation, hygiene, food aid and non-food items and shelter. The review will be public on March 22nd.
On Afghanistan, the Special Representative for the country briefed the Security Council yesterday. There will be a meeting held on Afghanistan in the Hague at the end of this month. The Special Representative stated countries need to work to end the "doom and gloom atmosphere" in his country.
On the DR CONGO, there was a resumption of civilians displaced as rebel Hutu groups known as the FDLR have continued attacks on villages in North Kivu. UN Spokesperson Montas stated these attacks have not halted the return of FDLR troops back to Rwanda under a joint agreement signed by the two parties early this year.
A nuclear weapon free zone in Central Asia pact has been ratified today by all five Asian states including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
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