UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL

OUTGOING FACSIMILE

DATE: 23 February 2001

TO: Mr. Filippo Grandi FROM: Mr. Peter Schmitz Chef de Cabinet O$ce of the Chef de Cabinet United Nations High Commissioner EOSG for Refugees New Yor k v^n \ \J^\^t o *1 i Geneva FAX NO: 41 22 739 7346 FAX NO: (212) 963-2155 SUBJECT: Letter from Mr. Lubbers TOTAL NUMBER OF TRANSMITTED PAGES INCLUDING THIS PAGE 8

As requested, please find attached the final version of the draft letter of Mr. Ruud Lubbers as distributed to the Members of the Security Council.

Thank you and best regards. Le President: du Coneeil de securitg presente see compliments aux membres du Conseil et a 1'honneur de porter a leur attention le texte ci-joint d'xma lettre datee du 22 fSvrier 2001, adresseei au President du Consoil de 06curitS par le Secretaire general, airisi que la pi^ce qui y est jointe*

Le 22 f^vrier 2001

The President of the Security Council presents his compliments to the members of the Council arid has the honour to transmit herewith, for their attention, copies of a letter dated 22 February 2001 from the Secretary- General addressed to the President o£ the Security Council and its enclosure.

22 February 2001 LE a

Le 22 fcvrier 2001

Monsieur le President,

J'ai 1'honneur de vovis faire tenir ci-joint une leixrc de Monsieur Ruud Lubbers, Haul ComrnLssaire poor les refugi^s, en date du 21 fevrier2001 .

Je vous serais rcconnaissant dc porter cette Icttre a Tattention des membres du Conseil de securite.

Je vous prie cl'agreer, Monsieur le President, 1'exprcssion cle-u\a (res haute consideration.

" Kofi A. Annan

Son Excellence Monsieur S;«d Ben Mustapha Prcsidcrtl. du Conscil d<: securi«.6 New York 01.26208 -1-

The Secretary-General

22 February 2001

Sir, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a letter dated 21 February 2001 .from Mr. Ruud Lubbers, the High Commissioner for Refugees. I should bo grateful if you would bring this letter to the attention of the members of the Security Council. Accept., Sir, ihe assurances of iny highest consideration.

(Signed} Kofi A. Anuan

His Excellency Mr. Sard Beji President of the Security Council New York NAT.ONS UNIES NATIONS LE HAUT COMMISSAIRE THE H|GH COMMISSIONER POUR LES FtfFUGIES FOR REFUGEES

Case f oatalo i&oi> CH-1 £11 Qeittva 2 D«pdl Sulaae

21 February 2001

Mr. Secretary-General,

Upon my return from , Sierra Jxone, , Tvory CoasL and Mali (10-18 February 2001), 1 would like to share wilh you the findings and results of my mission. My focus was naturally on the current refugee crisis in West Africa. In this regard, 1 should like to refer to my briefing to the Security Council on 9 January 2001 and my letter of 17 January to His Excellency Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani of Singapore, then President of ihe Security Council, regarding the situation in Guinea.

Subsequently, the situation of refugees and internally displaced people in (he region deteriorated substantially. A series of rebel attacks in southeastern Guinea, particularly in the Gucckedou and Kissidougou. areas, caused further displacement of refugees and the local population. More than lOO.UUU refugees were reportedly trapped in the border region known as La Languette, to wliich UNlICR had liltle access due to the volatile security situation. UNHCR, in cooperation with its partners, tried to relocate the refugees from the LanguCUe region to safer places within Guinea, such as , some eighty kilometers north of Kissidougou. The worrying security situation near ihe border made this operation extremely dangerous. Security conditions Tor the refugees and humanitarian workers alike became very fragile.

UNHCR received reports on a number of occasions that the Guinean Army did not allow refugees U) leave the Languettc region. Similarly, nearly 35,000 refugees were blocked in Nyaedou camp, situated between Gueckedou and Kissidougou. UNHCR vehicles and other humanitarian provisions were also requisitioned by the military. In addition, the largt number ol" refugees coupled with Hie deteriorating security environment in Guinea led to increase in tensions with the local population. OJSCK of harassment were reported and the free movement ol" refugees toward Conakry and oarer safer places became more difficult.

In view of these developments, upon my arrival in Guinea on 11 February, 1 placed a high priority on restoring good and effective relations with the Government of the Republic of Guinea and its military. In a war-like situation in southeastern Guinea, I noted that two senior military officers hai.1 replaced U»e civilian prefets of Kissidougou. We agreed with the audiodties oa establishing a foc-iil - point to facilitate our contaels and communication on security matters. The main responsibility of ihe focal (joint arrangement will be to alert humanitarian agencies on issues pertaining to security in dii? region and also on other incidents such as die requisitioning of UNHCR vehicles.

His Excellency Mr. Koli A. Annan Secretary-General United: Nations 1 found that improvements to safeguard the physical protection of refugees were much needed, I addressed this point with the Guinean civilian and military authorities by agreeing upon the necessity of ensuring "safe access to" and the "safe passage of refugees, along with any measures required to implement these principles. While .we agreed upon these principles for the entire country, implementation is to begin with the establishment of safe passage along the main road between Uueckedou and Kissidougou and the route leading to Conakry, The agreement also secures passage 'to refugee camps near the main road, such as the new Alhadaria site.

The next step will be to gain access Hie Languettc region. With the rainy season about to begin, urgent action is needed to remedy the situation. My consultations with the Guinean authorities made clear that they would be prepared to cooperate in ensuring access to the Languette and the safe passage of refugees northward. They shared their concern that bringing food and other humanitarian assistance into that area risked attracting the attention of rebel groups' and, thus, undermining One prospects for safe passage out. The ability of the RUF to reach the area obviously was a consideration in Uieir thinking. The Government also emphasized that, given the sizable number of refugees, not only relocation inside Guinea but also return to Sierra Ixsone needed to he considered and pursued.

These two points were high qn my agenda when I arrived in Freetown on 13 February, Following my meetings with UNAMS1L, the President of and government authorities, 1 had assurances that an agreement on basic principles of safe access and passage was possible. For Sierra Leone, the option of safc passage - or opening a humanitarian corridor - was more relevant. President Kabbah agreed that UNAMSIL and the UN Contact Group could initiate discussions with the RUF leading to the establishment of conditions for the safe passage of refugees returning to Sietra Leone. The initiative to open a corridor for refugees and to reach an agreement on the basic principles matched perfectly witli the need to improve relations with the RUP and bring greater stability, as mentioned by SRSG Adeniji in his briefing to the Security Council on 14 February.

1 should add thai the efforts of the Contact Group to establish conditions for safe passage must not only involve Sierra Leone, but Guinea as well. The ongoing consultations regarding the hand-over of control over the Forecariah-Kambia road from RUF to UNAMSIL - and, consequently, Hie establishment of a safc passage - can only become a reality if Guinea also cooperates wiili the initiative. During my mission, l received reports of (.lie CJuinean Army shelling the area. At ihc same unit, a request that the Government of Guinea cooperate in these effort* will be more realistic and productive if the RUF commits itself li> refraining from military actions on the Guinean territory niul condemns all actions lh;il violate the agreed principltft. For this reason, during my stay in Sierra l^onc, 1 decided to seek ihc active support not only of President Kabbah, but also of the RU1; through the intermediary of (he Contact Group.

During «ur meeting. President Kabbah pointed out the possibility of opening a road from the Languetic to Kenema, The President had aJrcady requested that UNAMSIL explore this possibility, and he later confirmed this position during our joint press conference. While agreeing iliat his suggestion could be another potentially valuable step, I stressed that the first priority should be to reach a formal agreement between the Governments of Guinea and Sierra Leone and the RUF (and IWA-MSH. lor that maUvr) on the basic principles of safe access and safe passage.

Following my talks and Fact-finding visit in Sierra Leone, I was convinced thai the success of refugee returns will depend fundamentally upon guaranteeing safely in the country, most particularly by ensuring the cease fire agreement holds. This will allow us to explore (he possibility of expanding the sate areas for return into RUF-controlled areas. The promotion of safe ;ind increased returns U> Sierra Lconu arc thus intertwined with the pence find political processes in that country. The agreement of the RUF to restrict its operations to Sierra Leonezui territory and to refrain from action in Guinea would be conducive to greater peace, stability and repatriation.

During my mission, I attempted to clarify our future course of action with regard lo the RUF. 1 developed a plan of action in the following days, wliich was presented to the RUF on Monday - through the Contact. Group - and also shared informally with the Government of Guinea- I will inform you of the results of the initiative, if any, as soon ;is Ihese consultations conclude and confidentiality is no longer required.

Before leaving for Liberia, J. also looked into the possibilities of organizing an airlift from Guinea to Sierra Leone for the most vulnerable refugees. We also need to examine closely the potential need for assistance to the Guiriean Army, especially in the area of logistics, in order to achieve safe passage lor refugees. 1 will need to evaluate these two points further before taking a position. On the other hand, I have concluded that action in the following two areas is urgently needed:

• Increased assistance to internally displaced people in both Guinea and Sierra Leone, given die mixed nature of displacement, as well as the funding to make this possible; and

« Increased support to local communities that are heavily burdened by large numbers of. refugees and displaced people, ID be implemented together with NGOs.

On February IS. I headed to Monrovia to meet President Charles Taylor of Liberia. 1 explained to President Taylor that I was seeking bis commitment to placing absolute priority upon (he principles of safe access and safe passage for refugees. I ako urged him to condemn publicly all violations committed against these principles. I mentioned to the President that making such commitment represented the only way forward for his country and people, as this might lead to regaining support from the international community. Liberia's effective adherence to these basic principles would give Liberia credibility, while failing in do so would lead to further isolation and degradation. President Taylor agreed lo make this commitment and. on riiis basis. T invited him to become a partner in the .sub-regional "sale access" and "safe passage" framework.

I should also like to bring to your attention to the following three points ihal President Taylor made during our meeting- Hirst, the President again categorically declined to be an intermediary with the RUF, I clarified that this would not be the case. On the contrary, 1 agreed that from now nn - the least possible contact between him and the RUF would be best. I also shared my view that it would be preferable to engage RUF through the Contact Group in Sierra Leo,ne and to respect the ItlJF as a Sierrsi Leonean movement. Second, President Taylor offered to open the border between the Liinguelle region i» Guinea and Liberia, so refugees could be transferred to safer locations via Liberia. While expressing appreciation for the offer, I declined to pursue such A pusxihilily at this juncture, at leasl for the non-Ubcrian refugees. Third, President Taylor offered his hope that the deployment, of KOOMOG forces and, in particular, Die monitoring mission would diminish tensions - and the false accusations regarding military actions in and around the borders of Guinea ;mtl Liberia. I responded that I would explore positive synergy between the ECOWAS initiative and the principles of the safe access and passage during my meeting with President Konare of Mali.

As you will appreciate, I have obtained the agreement of (he Presidents of Guinea, Sierra Ijconc and Liberia to respect the principles of safe access and passage, aud we ure working on engaging the RUF in this process. Nevertheless, T realize that this initiative remains fragile and vulnerable. Military discipline is a critical issue, with different armed factions active in ih« Lauguette region, along the border between Guinea and Liberia and even in Sierra Leone, with the RUF, the Sierra Lconean Army, Sierra Leoneari civil defense units and vigilante groups iu Guinea remaining sources of concern.

Although my visit to Cdte d'lvoirc was useful, I did not see a reason to. involve President Laurent Gbagbo in the sub-regional safe access and safe passage scheme.

The final stop of my mission, was Mali. I held discussions with. President Konar£ on the status of (he ECOWAS initiative to deploy forces to ihe conflict zone. The President shared his frank view that the. original idea of an interposition force along (he borders of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia was becoming increasingly difficult lo implement. He welcomes iny views on viable alternatives. At bis suggestion, I met subsequently with l.*o ECOWAS military advisors and exchanged views on our approach to safe passage and access. During ihe meeting, I offered a phased plan for developing a revised OCOV/AS initiative in tandem with UNHCft's safe access and passage plan. The parties concerned are now discussing ihe issue, and I hope dial ;i concrete and feasible mechanism might be defined as soon as possible.

The ongoing crisis in West Africa needs urgem attention and support from the internattotiaJ eonununity, 1 plan to travel to New York during the second week of March, and 1 would look forward to having the opportunity to brief you and the Members of the Security Council at thai time.

Yours sincerely.

Ruud Lubbers