EG NITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES

POSTAL ADDRESS ADRESSE POSTALE- UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. 10O17 OGT 2 21997 CABLE ADDRESS ADRESSE TELEGRAPH IQU E: UNATIONS NEWYORK EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

CABINET OU SECRETAIRE GENERAL 14 October 1997 REFERENCE: Dear Mr. Lewis,

I am taking the liberty of writing to you, on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to draw your attention to a recent step taken by the Security Council that, in his view, represents an extraordinary development in efforts to bring peace and stability to the troubled continent of Africa.

On 8 October 1997, the Security Council demanded that the military junta which had overthrown the democratically-elected Government of President Kabbah of Sierra Leone relinquish power and make way for a return to constitutional rule. To back up the demand, the Council imposed an oil and arms embargo as well as travel restrictions on the junta, and authorized the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) to ensure compliance by halting and inspecting inbound maritime shipping as necessary. A copy of the resolution (Security Council resolution 1132) is enclosed.

This decision comes on the heels of determined efforts by the Organization of African Unity and ECOWAS to reverse the coup d'etat perpetrated on 25 May 1997. Unprecedented in Africa, it is a clear indication that the international community -- including African leaders -- will no longer tolerate military coups by self-appointed juntas against democratically-elected governments.

Mr. Anthony Lewis 2 Faneuil Hall Marketplace Suite 401 Boston, MA 02109-1613 The Secretary-General's own view is that this-..; ^ action by the Security Council should be welcomed. He himself condemned the coup on a number of occasions, most notably in a speech at the Summit of the Organization of African Unity in Zimbabwe on 2 June, shortly after it took place. In that spirit, he hopes you will consider addressing this issue -- and the determination of the international community to stand up for democracy -- in your column.

Yours sincerely,

Shashi Tharoor Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General LETTER FORWARDED TO THE FOLLOWING JOURNALISTS;

Mr. The New York Times 1627 I Street, NW Washington, B.C. 20006

Mr. The New York Times 1627 I Street, NW Washington, B.C. 20006

Mr. A. M. Rosenthal The New York Times 229 West 43rd Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036

Mr. Jim Hoagland Washington, B.C. 20071

Mr. Stephen Rosenfeld The Washington Post Washington, B.C. 20071

Mr. The Washington Post Washington, B.C. 20071

Mr. Anthony Lewis The New York Times 2 Faneuil Hall Marketplace Suite 401 Boston, MA 02109-1613