DATE=6/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N SIERRA LEONE ECOWAS(L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263635
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council and
representatives of a west African regional group met
today (Wednesday) to discuss the situation in Sierra
Leone. VOA Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the
United Nations.
TEXT: The Council met for more than five hours in
closed session with representatives of the Economic
Community of West African States - or ECOWAS - to
exchange ideas about how to proceed in Sierra Leone.
After the meeting, Council President Jean Levitte of
France told reporters the Council and the ECOWAS
representatives agreed that those accused of violating
the peace accords, such as Foday Sankoh, leader of the
Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone, should be
brought to justice. However, there was no agreement on
how that might be accomplished and there is still no
consensus on that in the Security Council.
The United States is reported planning to prepare a
resolution that would bring Mr. Sankoh and other rebel
leaders under a combined international and national
jurisdiction.
The Revolutionary United Front has attacked and
kidnapped members of the U-N peacekeeping force in
Sierra Leone.
Mr. Levitte told reporters the Security Council
briefed the ECOWAS representatives on a number of
plans to deal with the problems in Sierra Leone.
///Levitte act///
Members of the Security Council informed members
of the ECOWAS delegation of ongoing discussions
within the Council on draft resolutions
concerning the strengthening of UNAMSIL (the U-N
peacekeeping force), the control of diamond
exports and arms imports and on the provision of
justice.
///end act///
There are plans to increase the size of the U-N
peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone from about 13-
thousand to 16-thousand-500. In addition, diplomats
say that restrictions on diamond exports and arms
imports could reduce rebel activity in Sierra
Leone.(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/PT
21-Jun-2000 18:19 PM EDT (21-Jun-2000 2219 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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