02 August 2003
Negroponte: Taylor Must Leave Liberia Now
Transcript of Ambassador Negroponte's August 1 UNSC remarks
United Nations -- The immediate departure of Liberian President Charles Taylor is crucial now that the U.N. has authorized a multinational peacekeeping force, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said August 1.
Negroponte made the comment in remarks to the Security Council after the adoption of a resolution authorizing a multinational force to pacify the country and prepare the way for a follow-on U.N. peacekeeping mission in October. Negotiations in the region resulted in a plan in which Taylor agreed to leave for Nigeria after the first contingent of peacekeeping troops arrived in the country.
"Peacekeepers on the ground will secure the environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Their presence will support the implementation of the June 17 cease-fire agreement, including establishing conditions for initial stages of disarmament and demobilization activities," Negroponte said.
"Very importantly, peacekeepers will safeguard security in the wake of Charles Taylor's departure from the Liberian presidency. I cannot emphasize how crucial it is for Taylor to leave now," the ambassador said.
Negroponte, who is the U.S. permanent representative to the U.N., also said that the United States will do its part to support the effort and urged other nations to contribute staff, funds, and supplies to the multinational force which is being spearheaded by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Following is the transcript of the ambassador's remarks:
(begin transcript)
Explanation of Vote by Ambassador John D. Negroponte, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Passage of the Security Council Resolution on Liberia, at the Security Council, August 1, 2003
Thank you, Mr. President.
I join you and others in welcoming the Secretary General in our midst, and thank you for your presence on this occasion. The United States is gratified by the swift action taken by the Security Council in adopting this important resolution on Liberia introduced by my delegation. Our sponsorship of this resolution reflects the importance that the United States places on finding the right and effective means to bring peace to Liberia. It is our conclusion that an effective response demands intensive involvement by ECOWAS and the international community, anchored by the United Nations. The United States will do its part to support this endeavor. We ask all Member States to show their support through contributions to the staffing, funding and sustenance of the Multinational Force and the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission to follow.
This resolution will permit the Multinational Force to deploy in Liberia under the authority of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. It also sets in motion the establishment of a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission. The resolution authorizes the peacekeeping forces in Sierra Leone to provide support to the initial phase of ECOWAS deployment without jeopardizing UNAMSIL's continuing mission. And it authorizes the Secretary General to take immediate steps to begin to prepare for deployment of a follow-on United Nations Peacekeeping Mission. We are confident that the committed efforts of the Secretary General's Special Representative, Mr. Jacques Klein, backed fully by the will of the Council and the resources of the Secretariat, will significantly advance this critical deployment.
The Multinational Force and a follow-on United Nations peacekeeping operation go hand in hand. The Multinational Force is a crucial short-term bridge to our goal of placing United Nations peacekeepers on the ground in Liberia as soon as possible.
We appreciate the willingness of many of the West African states to assist in the vital task of restoring peace to Liberia. I would like to take special note of Nigeria's commitment of two battalions for immediate deployment. The United States is pleased to provide support for these deploying units.
President Bush has directed the Secretary of Defense to position appropriate military capabilities to support the deployment of an ECOWAS force. A U.S. marine force will shortly reach the coast off Liberia. A first ECOWAS reconnaissance team has arrived in Monrovia. As part of the ECOWAS vanguard for the Multinational Force, a first Nigerian battalion is set to move into Liberia as soon as Monday. Clearly there was a manifest need for the Council to adopt this resolution quickly.
As the security situation deteriorates, humanitarian conditions already appalling continue to worsen at a devastating pace. Peacekeepers on the ground will secure the environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Their presence will support the implementation of the June 17 ceasefire agreement, including establishing conditions for initial stages of disarmament and demobilization activities. Very importantly, peacekeepers will safeguard security in the wake of Charles Taylor's departure from the Liberian presidency. I cannot emphasize how crucial it is for Taylor to leave now.
Furthermore, it is imperative that all Liberia parties who are signatories to the June 17 ceasefire agreement, in particular the LURD and MODEL leadership, immediately and scrupulously uphold the June 17 ceasefire agreement. In this regard, all Liberian parties must cooperate fully with the Multinational Force and ensure the forces safety and security in Liberia.
The Multinational Force, starting with the Nigerian battalion that is leaving UNAMSIL, can now deploy, confident of the support of the Council and the knowledge that planning for a follow-on UN peacekeeping Force is underway.
Finally, Mr. President, I would simply note that in order to deal with the demands of this urgent situation, we ask the Secretary General to direct his Special Representative for Liberia to establish a presence in Liberia as soon as possible.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=August&x=20030802135633atiayduj0.7937128&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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