UK military support for Sierra Leone demonstrates international resolve: Annan
13 October -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed a decision by the British Government to provide more military assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country.
Mr. Annan's spokesman particularly lauded the readiness of a permanent member of the Security Council to deploy, if required, a rapid reaction capability, saying it was "likely to provide additional confidence to the people of Sierra Leone and demonstrate the resolve of the international community."
In this new context, the Secretariat will continue to seek additional troop contributions for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) so that it can effectively discharge its mandate, according to the spokesman.
Meanwhile, an 11-member Security Council mission travelling in West Africa to promote regional stability is in Nigeria today for a scheduled meeting with the country's President, Olusegun Obasanjo. The delegation is then expected to go to Monrovia where Council members will meet Liberian President Charles Taylor tomorrow.
Yesterday, the Council mission met three different Presidents in three different capitals to discuss the crisis in Sierra Leone. They began in Freetown with a meeting with Sierra Leonean President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, then met Guinean President Lansana Conteh in Conakry and finally held discussions with President Alpha Oumar Konaré of Mali in Bamako.
The delegation, which is expected back in New York on Sunday night, will brief the Security Council on its trip next Monday.
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