TUESDAY, 30 MARCH 2004

101 U.N. Recommends Ways to Help West Africa
(FR) (U.S. proposes cross-border peacekeeping operations to halt mercenaries)
(1030)

*AEF101 03/29/2004
U.N. Recommends Ways to Help West Africa
(FR) (U.S. proposes cross-border peacekeeping operations to halt mercenaries) (1030)
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- The nations of West Africa and the international community must work together as partners in a coordinated effort to tackle the region's long-standing economic, humanitarian, and security problems, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said March 25.

In a speech to the U.N. Security Council, Annan said that the root causes of the region's problems are linked to "all too prevalent" abuses of governance, human rights and transparency.

"Until they are addressed with real resolve, until there is a fundamental break with authoritarianism and the culture of violence, exclusion, and impunity, I fear that whatever inroads we manage to make in handling cross-border problems will remain just that -- temporary inroads, and fragile at best," the secretary-general said.

Annan urged the governments in the region "to build on the gains they have recently made and establish solidly democratic institutions and effective regional organizations."

"West Africa is blessed with a vibrant civil society that has wide-ranging experience in conflict prevention, peace-building and development. States must draw on their experience in addressing their problems," he said.

"Let us all do our utmost to bring genuine change and hope into the lives of people throughout the region who are struggling to move beyond today's suffering and reach better days," the secretary-general said.

The Security Council held a half-day public session on regional and cross-border problems in West Africa. Attending the meeting were Mohammad ibn Chambas, executive secretary of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS), and Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.

The United States proposed that talks begin at U.N. headquarters and capitals on how the three U.N. peacekeeping missions in West Africa can combat cross-border problems through cross-border military operations and air patrols.

"Of course, this idea must be thoroughly vetted. There are many issues involved, but efficiencies, synergies, and mission successes will result," said U.S. Ambassador Stuart Holliday.

The three U.N. peacekeeping operations in the region present "a precedent-setting opportunity for comprehensive, creative approaches to some of the cross-border problems," the U.S. ambassador said.

"There can be no question of the Security Council's commitment to peace in the region and there can be no more fortuitous time for the states in the region to take advantage of a genuine opportunity for ensuring lasting peace and security," he said.

The three peacekeeping operations are the U.N. Mission in Cote d'Ivoire (MINUCI), the U.N. Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the U.N. Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

The U.S. ambassador also recommended that work begin on harmonizing the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs of each country. "We are concerned about issues such as competing stipend packages in different countries that may actually influence combatants or appear to be in competition with one another," he said.

In July 2003, the Security Council asked Annan to report on ways to combat subregional and cross-border problems in West Africa. Presenting that report to the council March 25, the secretary-general said that the main cross-border problems are small-arms smuggling, child soldiers and mercenaries. Although not the cause of instability, those issues contribute to the suffering of the population and the deterioration of the economic and social situation in the region, he said.

Most of those activities take place at a point where Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea share a border -- the so-called Guinea forestiere. Serious problems also exist on the border between Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia.

Annan presented 33 practical and concrete recommendations that involve improving U.N. coordination; ratifying and observing existing conventions; collaborating in the Mano River Union area; strengthening the ECOWAS secretariat; supporting national commissions; supporting disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs; supporting security sector reform; reducing extortion at roadblocks within and between countries; strengthening civil society participation and awareness-raising; and "naming and shaming" small arms exporters and private security companies.

The recommendations involve actions for the Security Council, other organizations in the U.N. system, bilateral and multilateral donors, ECOWAS, individual West African governments, non-governmental organizations, and others such as suppliers of small arms and light weapons.
 
For example, the secretary-general recommended that the Security Council and others should "name and shame" commercial companies and individuals that flout conventions relating to the export of small arms to the region and/or use child soldiers and mercenaries.
 
ECOWAS should demand that its members abide by their own commitments to free passage for people and goods, Annan recommended. Governments in the region should issue compelling orders to reduce the number of illegitimate checkpoints and the practice of extortion at them.
 
In order to improve traceability, governments of countries exporting small arms should insist that manufacturers be far more punctilious in inscribing indelible serial numbers on weapons, and importing governments should strengthen procedures for issuing end-user certificates, the secretary-general said.
 
If the countries, the region and the international community are serious about addressing the problems in West Africa, a wholesale reform of governance -- not merely political and financial commitments -- is required, the secretary-general said in his written report to the council.
 
If West Africa's problems are to be dealt with in an effective and sustained manner, assistance cannot be carried out on a country-by-country basis, but must be a multifaceted, regional approach, he said.
 
Annan told the council his recommendations must not be viewed as "a shopping list for donors," but seen as "a call to action."
 
Special attention should be paid to the proliferation of small arms, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the use of child soldiers and mercenaries, as well as to roadblocks that greatly impede movement of persons and goods in the subregion, the secretary-general said.
 
The United States endorsed the secretary-general's report. Holliday said that "the report should be an initial step in a process of serious, sustained engagement" in solving the problems of West Africa.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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