DATE=12/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE-U-N (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257604
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council held
private talks today (Wednesday) on the situation in
Sierra Leone, with the discussion focused on a
proposal to increase the size of the U-N peacekeeping
force now moving into the West African nation. More
from correspondent Larry Freund in New York.
TEXT: The Security Council met for a briefing on
Sierra Leone by a senior U-N official and to review U-
N Secretary-General Kofi Annan's request for the
expansion of the U-N peacekeeping force in Sierra
Leone, known as UNAMSIL. Mr. Annan has recommended an
increase from the currently authorized six-thousand
troops to 10-thousand. Mr. Annan has said that the
cease-fire in Sierra Leone is fragile and that
Nigeria's plan to remove its peacekeepers from the
country in February could create a dangerous security
gap. Nigerian troops form the core of the West
African force in Sierra Leone, ECOMOG.
After the Security Council completed its talks,
Council President Jeremy Greenstock - Britain's
ambassador to the United Nations - said Council
members had paid tribute to the role of Nigeria and
other West African countries' efforts to bring peace
and stability to Sierra Leone.
/// GREENSTOCK ACT ///
They agreed that it was imperative to avoid any
security vacuum in Sierra Leone. And they
discussed the changes that would be necessary to
the mandate and to the strength of UNAMSIL as
Nigeria withdraws from ECOMOG. And they await
further detailed information from the
Secretariat on that topic.
//// END ACT ///
Ambassador Greenstock said he hopes Secretary-General
Annan can provide detailed information on the proposal
for an expanded peacekeeping force. He said the
security Council hopes to consider the issue again,
early in the new year.
/// REST OPT ///
The U-N secretary-general has said the removal of
Nigerian troops from Sierra Leone in the immediate
future, without adequate security protection from
other peacekeepers, would create a dangerous
situation. Security Council President Jeremy
Greenstock says that concern has been raised with
Nigeria.
/// GREENSTOCK ACT ///
The Secretariat and others are in constant
contact with the Nigerians. There was a team
here last week discussing all this. So I think
they are trying to make sure that there isn't
going to be a gap in the transition from ECOMOG
to UNAMSIL. There are still several weeks
before there is a complete ECOMOG drawdown.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
The United Nations says four-thousand of the
authorized six-thousand peacekeepers have arrived in
Sierra Leone. (signed)
NEB/NY/LSF/JP
29-Dec-1999 16:32 PM EDT (29-Dec-1999 2132 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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