State Department Noon Briefing, September 21, 2000
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
Thursday, September 21, 2000
Briefer: Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Q: What does the Administration make out of the latest peacekeeping
operations, given the fact that India is withdrawing all its troops
out of the place?
MR. BOUCHER: The United Nations, I guess, has - or I guess India
announced yesterday that it does plan to phase its withdrawal from the
UN peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone to allow the UN time to
identify replacement troops. This UN announcement reflects an Indian
decision already known to us, to the United Nations, and the United
States. We have been discussing this with them over the past few days,
at least, or the past week or so.
The UN is already approaching other potential troop contributors, and
we are working hard with the United Nations troop contributors, and
the Security Council, to ensure that the UN mission in Sierra Leone
has the assets it needs to fulfill its job.
As you know, the mandate was renewed yesterday in the United Nations
to go until December 31st. Troop strength at this point remains the
same, and we will continue to work with the United Nations and other
governments to make sure that the UN force in Sierra Leone has the
troops it needs to fulfill its mandate and carry out its job.
(The briefing was concluded at 1:52 P.M.)
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