webmaster
© Copyright DEHAI-Eritrea OnLine, 1993-2011
All rights reserved
From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Mon Jun 27 2011 - 19:51:37 EDT
27 June 2011
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/unlogo_blue_sml_en.jpg
Security Council
SC/10298
_____
Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
Security Council
6567th Meeting (AM)
Deeming Need for ‘Urgent’ Response to Situation in Abyei, Sudan, Security
Council
Decides to Deploy Peacekeeping Force to Area, Unanimously Adopting 1990
(2011)
Deeply concerned by the violence, escalating tensions and population
displacement in Sudan’s Abyei region and recognizing that the situation
demanded an urgent response, the Security Council today authorized the
deployment of a peacekeeping force to the disputed area, which straddles
Northern and Southern Sudan and is claimed by both.
With the unanimous adoption of resolution 1990 (2011), the Council formally
established, for six months, the United Nations Interim Security Force for
Abyei (UNISFA), which would comprise a maximum of 4,200 military personnel,
50 police personnel and appropriate civilian support. Authorizing the use
of force to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei, the Council
underscored the imperative for the expeditious deployment of UNISFA and
urged Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “to take necessary steps to ensure rapid
and effective implementation” of the resolution.
The new operation answers the call for speedy Council action in the wake of
the agreement reached last week between the Sudanese Government and the
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to withdraw their respective
forces and allow Ethiopian peacekeepers in Abyei. Under that deal, brokered
by former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki, the two sides agreed on the
need for a third party to monitor the flashpoint border between north and
south. As Southern Sudan prepares to formally declare its independence from
Khartoum on 9 July — the culmination of a wider 2005 peace deal — resource
rich Abyei had in recent weeks been the scene of deadly clashes that drove
more than 100,000 people from their homes.
By the resolution, UNISFA would monitor and verify the redeployment of any
Sudan Armed Forces, Sudan People’s Liberation Army or its successor from the
Abyei area; “henceforth, the Abyei area shall be demilitarized from any
forces other than UNISFA and the Abyei Police Service,” it adds. The
resolution also charges the interim force with facilitating the delivery of
humanitarian aid and the free movement of relief workers in and around
Abyei. When necessary, and in coordination with the Abyei Police Service,
UNISFA troops would also provide security for the region’s oil
infrastructure.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council also
authorized UNISFA, within its capabilities and its area of deployment, to
take the necessary actions to protect United Nations personnel, facilities,
installations, and equipment; ensure the security and freedom of movement of
United Nations personnel, relief workers and members of the Joint Military
Observers Committee and Joint Military Observer Teams; and, without
prejudice to the responsibilities of the relevant authorities, “to protect
civilians in the Abyei area under imminent threat of physical violence”. It
also authorized the use of force to protect the area “from incursions by
unauthorized elements”, as defined in the agreement between the parties.
In a related Chapter VII provision, the Council requested the
Secretary-General and the Sudanese Government, in consultation with the
Government of Southern Sudan or its successor, to conclude a
status-of-forces agreement immediately on the safety and security of
humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel, and that until such an
agreement was concluded, the arrangement for the United Nations Mission in
the Sudan (UNMIS) would apply to UNISFA.
The resolution also requested the Secretary-General to “ensure that
effective human rights monitoring is carried out” and the results were
included in his reports to the 15-nation body, within the next 30 days, and
every 60 days thereafter. The Council plans to review the status of UNISFA
no later than three months from today.
After action on the resolution, French Ambassador Gérard Araud welcomed the
decision, which would allow the withdrawal of Northern and Southern forces
and prompt the return of displaced civilians. He hoped it would also open a
path for resolving the status of Abyei. He hailed the “robust” nature of
UNISFA’s mandate and urged attention to humanitarian and human rights issues
in Abyei. He also recalled the need for comprehensive action and broad
coordination by, and among, the various United Nations operations throughout
Sudan.
The meeting started at 10:40 a.m. and ended at 10:45 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 1990 (2011) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling its previous resolutions and its presidential statements on the
situation in Sudan, and noting the priority it attaches to the
implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,
“Reaffirming its commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial
integrity; and to peace, stability and security throughout the region,
“Reaffirming its previous resolutions 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the
protection of civilians in armed conflict, 1882 (2009) on children in armed
conflict, 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations
personnel, and 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), and 1889 (2009) on
women peace and security,
“Welcoming the Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan
People’s Liberation Movement on Temporary Arrangements for the
Administration and Security of the Abyei Area reached on 20 June 2011 in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
“Commending the assistance provided to the parties by the African Union High
Level Implementation Panel and its chair President Thabo Mbeki, Ethiopian
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Special Representative of the
Secretary-General Haile Menkerios,
“Noting the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement’s
request for the assistance of the Government of Ethiopia with regard to this
matter,
“Noting the readiness of the United Nations and the international community
to assist the parties in establishing and implementing mutual security
arrangements in support of the objectives of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement,
“Bearing in mind the importance of coherence of UN assistance in the region,
“Deeply concerned by the current situation in the Abyei Area, and by all
acts of violence committed against civilians in violation of international
humanitarian law and human rights law including the killing and displacement
of significant number of civilians,
“Reaffirming the importance of full and urgent implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement by both parties,
“Calling on all parties involved to provide humanitarian personnel with full
and unimpeded access to civilians in need of assistance and all necessary
facilities for their operations, in accordance with international
humanitarian law,
“Urging all parties to facilitate the rapid return of internally displaced
persons,
“Noting the intent of the parties to establish a special unit of the Abyei
Police Service which shall deal with particular issues related to nomadic
migration,
“Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United Nations to sensitize
peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other
communicable diseases in all of its peacekeeping operations,
“Calling upon all parties to engage constructively in negotiations towards
the final agreement on the status of Abyei,
“Recognizing that the current situation in Abyei demands an urgent response
and constitutes a threat to international peace and security,
“1. Decides to establish, for a period of 6 months, the United Nations
Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), taking into account the Agreement
between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei
Area, and further decides that UNISFA shall comprise a maximum of 4200
military personnel,
50 police personnel, and appropriate civilian support;
“2. Decides that UNISFA shall have the following mandate, in addition to
tasks set out in paragraph 3:
(a) Monitor and verify the redeployment of any Sudan Armed Forces, Sudan
People’s Liberation Army or its successor, from the Abyei Area as defined by
the Permanent Court of Arbitration; henceforth, the Abyei Area shall be
demilitarized from any forces other than UNISFA and the Abyei Police
Service,
(b) Participate in relevant Abyei Area bodies as stipulated in the
Agreement,
(c) Provide, in cooperation with other international partners in the mine
action sector, de-mining assistance and technical advice,
(d) Facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of
humanitarian personnel in coordination with relevant Abyei Area bodies as
defined by the Agreement, and
(e) Strengthen the capacity of the Abyei Police Service by providing
support, including the training of personnel, and coordinate with the Abyei
Police Service on matters of law and order, and
(f) When necessary and in cooperation with the Abyei Police Service,
provide security for oil infrastructure in the Abyei Area;
“3. Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
authorizes UNISFA within its capabilities and its area of deployment to take
the necessary actions to:
a. protect UNISFA personnel, facilities, installations, and equipment,
b. protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations, and
equipment,
c. ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations
personnel, humanitarian personnel and members of the Joint Military
Observers Committee and Joint Military Observer Teams,
d. without prejudice to the responsibilities of the relevant authorities,
to protect civilians in the Abyei Area under imminent threat of physical
violence,
e. protect the Abyei Area from incursions by unauthorized elements, as
defined in the Agreement, and
f. ensure security in the Abyei Area.
“4. Requests that the Secretary-General and the Government of Sudan, in
consultation with the Government of Southern Sudan or its successor,
conclude a status-of-forces agreement immediately after the adoption of this
resolution, taking into consideration General Assembly resolution 64/77 on
the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United
Nations personnel, and, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the
United Nations, decides that, until such an agreement is concluded, the
status-of-forces agreement for the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of UNISFA;
“5. Calls on all Member States to ensure the free, unhindered and
expeditious movement to and from Abyei of all personnel, as well as
equipment, provisions, supplies and other goods, including vehicles and
spare parts, which are for the exclusive and official use of UNISFA;
“6. Underscores the imperative of expeditious deployment of UNISFA and
urges the Secretary-General to take necessary steps to ensure rapid and
efficient implementation;
“7. Urges the Government of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan or
its successor to fully cooperate with each other and provide full support to
UNISFA, enabling it to fully implement the mandate;
“8. Stresses that improved cooperation between the Government of Sudan and
Government of Southern Sudan or its successor, is also critical for peace,
security and stability and the future relations between them;
“9. Calls upon the Government of Sudan and the Government of Southern
Sudan or its successor urgently to fulfil their commitment under the CPA to
resolve peacefully the final status of Abyei, and calls upon them to
consider in good faith proposals the African Union High Level Implementation
Panel shall make to resolve this matter;
“10. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that effective human rights
monitoring is carried out, and the results included in his reports to the
Council;
“11. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council regularly informed
of the progress in implementing the Agreement and to report to the Council
no later than thirty days after the adoption of this resolution and every 60
days thereafter;
“12. Decides to review UNISFA’s role in the implementation of the Agreement
not later than 3 months after adoption of this resolution;
“13. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to
ensure full compliance of UNISFA with the United Nations zero tolerance
policy on sexual exploitation and abuses and to keep the Council informed if
cases of such conduct occur;
“14. Decides to remain actively seized of matter.”
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----