S/PV.6080
6080th meeting
Monday, 9 February 2009, 10 a.m.
New York
The situation in Sierra Leone
Mr. Dabbashi (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (spoke in Arabic): Since this is the first time that I am speaking in an open debate under your leadership, Mr. President, I am pleased to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. I am fully confident that you will guide our work towards the best possible results.
I would like to commend the excellent manner in which Ambassador Ripert, Permanent Representative of France, and the delegation of France conducted the work of the Council during the month of January. I should also like to extend my thanks to Mr. Michael von der Schulenburg, Executive Representative of the Secretary-General, for his comprehensive briefing on the situation in Sierra Leone and the activities of United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL). I should also like to thank Ambassador Frank Majoor, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands and Chairman of the Sierra Leone configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, and Ambassador Shekou Touray, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone, for their valuable contributions.
The report of the Secretary-General under consideration today (S/2009/59) and the briefing given by Mr. von der Schulenburg have clearly shown that Sierra Leone is on the verge of becoming the latest success story from West Africa. Great achievements have been made in all areas and the political and security situation seems to be stable in general. This progress encourages the ongoing joint efforts of the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone to build and promote peace and establish stable and democratic State institutions with a view to overcoming the impact of civil strife and conflict and to beginning the process of development and the consolidation of a peaceful society throughout Sierra Leone.
We are well aware that the Government still faces many challenges despite the great achievements accomplished to date. We also know that a climate of mistrust and suspicion still prevails between the two principal political parties in Sierra Leone. However, the cordial interaction that is developing between those parties, with the encouragement of UNIPSIL, is a source of deep satisfaction and optimism for us.
Despite the encouraging economic performance of Sierra Leone in 2008, certain issues are a cause for concern, such declining export revenues and remittances from abroad, as well as the possible reduction of official development assistance to Sierra Leone in 2009 and its potential adverse impact on financing for the social sector. We therefore support the proposal to hold a special session of the Peacebuilding Commission to consider stepping up donations and assistance through voluntary contributions to Sierra Leone.
Libya considers the Agenda for Change of President Koroma and the Joint Vision of the United Nations Family for Sierra Leone to be two very important instruments for accelerating the peacebuilding process. President Koroma’s Agenda focuses on combining economic growth and human resource development. It determines priorities and emphasizes that the continued corruption, escalating illegal drug trafficking and youth unemployment are the principal threats to peace and stability in Sierra Leone. We agree with President Koroma in this regard.
The Joint Vision of the United Nations Family in Sierra Leone aims to assist the Government in consolidating peace. It identifies four principal programmatic priorities: the economic integration of rural areas in Sierra Leone, the engagement of unemployed youth, equitable access to health care, and the enhancement of good governance. We hope that United Nations bodies and donors will provide generous support to implement both the Agenda for Change and the Joint Vision.
The use and exploitation of Sierra Leone as a transit area for illicit drug trafficking and the presence of organized crime are problems of concern and must be confronted as priority matters before they escalate and create an even more dangerous situation. There is no doubt that promoting security and cooperation with the countries of the region will help us to better address those two problems, but it will also require the support of UNIPSIL and donors to achieve those goals. In that connection, we commend the initiative of UNIPSIL in developing an action plan to address illicit drug trafficking and organized crime in Sierra Leone, based on the Regional Action Plan adopted in Cape Verde.
Libya agrees with the report of the Secretary-General that one of the cornerstones of post-conflict peacebuilding is dealing with the tragedies and injustices of the civil war. My delegation therefore believes that it is important to implement the priorities and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and to implement a reparations programme for victims of the civil war as soon as possible. Libya calls upon donors to provide funding for the proposed multi-donor trust fund for that purpose. We also believe that the constitutional review process must occur quickly and we welcome the readiness of UNIPSIL to provide technical and advisory assistance for that process.
Libya, within its capacities, has provided assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone in the form of grants and investment projects and has urged the financial institutions of which it is a member also to provide assistance to that end. My country intends to continue its assistance.
In conclusion, we commend the efforts of UNIPSIL, in particular in calling upon the Sierra Leone parties to establish dialogue and enhance national cohesion and unity, in promoting the capacities of civil society, and in providing parliamentary assistance through support for capacity-building in addressing illicit drug trafficking and human rights. We also commend the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund for their support to the Government of Sierra Leone in the basic areas of peacebuilding.
