DATE=2/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / SIERRA LEONE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258920
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council voted
Monday to almost double the size of the U-N
peacekeeping force in the west African nation of
Sierra Leone. V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery
reports from the United Nations.
TEXT: In a unanimous vote, the Council increased,
from six-thousand to 11-thousand-100 the number of
authorized U-N troops in Sierra Leone. The vote was
in line with a recent recommendation from U-N
Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Mr. Annan says the
increase is needed because Nigeria, which had been
providing peacekeeping troops in Sierra Leone, decided
to phase out its involvement. Some Nigerian forces
will remain however, now under the U-N command that is
known as UNAMSIL.
Before the vote, the Security Council heard a report
from U-N Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Hedi Annabi. Mr. Annabi conceded there have been
problems with improperly-equipped U-N troops in Sierra
Leone, and he alluded to incidents last month in which
some U-N troops actually were disarmed by rebel
groups.
/// ANNABI ACT ///
There were several incidents in which the
UNAMSIL peacekeepers were confronted by rebel
elements and did not respond, in our view, in a
satisfactory manner.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Annabi said U-N commanders in Sierra Leone have
been instructed not to allow any future incidents of
rebels disarming peacekeepers. Since the peacekeepers
are supposed to be disarming the rebels, U-S
representative Nancy Soderberg described the incidents
as a "bizarre situation."
Britain sponsored the resolution increasing the force
size in Sierra Leone. Britain's ambassador, Jeremy
Greenstock, said the mission is an important test for
the United Nations.
/// GREENSTOCK ACT ///
It is a test, not just of our willingness to
Intervene -- the first phase of UNAMSIL has
shown that -- but of the U-N's actual ability to
deliver effective peacekeeping of lasting impact
and value.
/// END ACT ///
The Sierra Leone operation will now become the United
Nations' largest current peacekeeping mission. Later
this month, the Security Council is expected to
approve what could be the first phase of an even
larger peacekeeping mission in Congo-Kinshasa.
(Signed)
NEB/BA/LSF/TVM/WTW
07-Feb-2000 16:33 PM EDT (07-Feb-2000 2133 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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