S/PV.8422 the Situation in the Central African Republic 13/12/2018
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United Nations S/ PV.8422 Security Council Provisional Seventy-third year 8422nd meeting Thursday, 13 December 2018, 3 p.m. New York President: Mr. Adom ..................................... (Côte d’Ivoire) Members: Bolivia (Plurinational State of) ..................... Mr. Llorentty Solíz China ......................................... Mr. Ma Zhaoxu Equatorial Guinea ............................... Mr. Ndong Mba Ethiopia ....................................... Mr. Amde France ........................................ Mr. Delattre Kazakhstan .................................... Mr. Umarov Kuwait ........................................ Mr. Alotaibi Netherlands .................................... Mr. Blok Peru .......................................... Mr. Meza-Cuadra Poland ........................................ Ms. Wronecka Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Nebenzia Sweden ....................................... Mr. Skoog United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Ms. Pierce United States of America .......................... Mr. Cohen Agenda The situation in the Central African Republic . This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 18-43649 (E) *1843649* S/PV.8422 The situation in the Central African Republic 13/12/2018 The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m. heavy toll paid by the civilian population, humanitarian personnel and Blue Helmets, it was essential for the Adoption of the agenda Security Council to reaffirm its support for MINUSCA and the Central African authorities. The agenda was adopted. In order to promote consensus, we have sought The situation in the Central African Republic relentlessly, through extensive consultations and, of course, with respect for each other’s positions, to The President (spoke in French): In accordance strike a delicate balance among the various positions with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of expressed during the negotiations. All the members of procedure, I invite the representative of the Central the Council actively participated in those negotiations African Republic to participate in this meeting. and shared their sometimes diverging positions, which The Security Council will now begin its we have spared no effort to reconcile. consideration of the item on its agenda. In that context, we solemnly call on everyone to Members of the Council have before them actively and in good faith implement the resolution document S/2018/1016, which contains the text of a by putting the interests of the Central African people draft resolution submitted by France. above our national interests. Action in favour of the Central African Republic can be achieved neither The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the through a solitary and exclusive approach, nor by draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution methods that ignore the solutions provided by our to the vote now. African partners themselves — first and foremost, the African Union — nor through initiatives that call into A vote was taken by show of hands. question the decisions of the Security Council. In favour: To return to what should be at the heart of our Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Côte d’Ivoire, common concerns, the MINUSCA mandate, I would Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, France, Kazakhstan, like to underscore three points here with regard to the Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden, United important resolution that we have just adopted. Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America First, the resolution maintains MINUSCA’s robust format and mandate, which is key. MINUSCA, Against: which operates in a difficult environment, has None repeatedly demonstrated that it can act proactively Abstaining: and robustly, when necessary, to protect the civilian China and Russian Federation population — particularly the most vulnerable, namely, women and children — from the threat of armed groups. The President (spoke in French): The draft Now that MINUSCA has reached its full operational resolution received 13 votes in favour, none against and capacity with the arrival of the last contingents, which two abstentions. The draft resolution has been adopted resulted from the increase in the troop ceiling authorized as resolution 2448 (2018). last year, we hope that MINUSCA will be able to I shall now give the floor to those members of pursue its efforts to enhance its mobility and improve the Council who wish to make statements following its operational performance. It must also intensify the the voting. efforts already under way to prevent cases of sexual exploitation and abuse and ensure that they do not go Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): France unpunished. In that regard, I recall the importance of welcomes the adoption of resolution 2448 (2018), the Special Criminal Court and cooperation with the which renews the mandate of the United Nations International Criminal Court. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for one year. Secondly, the resolution also reinforces In a context that is characterized by ongoing serious MINUSCA’s role, in accordance with the Secretary- violence carried out by armed groups, as unfortunately General’s recommendations, in supporting the political evidenced by the current situation in Alindao, and with a process in the Central African Republic, under the aegis 2/9 18-43649 13/12/2018 The situation in the Central African Republic S/PV.8422 of the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in too long in this crisis. I want to say once again that the Central African Republic, which is also absolutely France’s motive is its desire to support the people of the essential. The African Initiative is the only direct Central African Republic, and that motive should guide and inclusive dialogue process between the Central the action and commitment of every Council member. African Government and armed groups from which a The President (spoke in French): I would like to comprehensive peace agreement can emerge. welcome the presence of His Excellency Mr. Stef Blok, In that context, we welcome the decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and to United Nations and the African Union to integrate give him the floor. MINUSCA into the African Initiative, as well as to Mr. Blok (Netherlands): As we gather in this include the Permanent Representative on the panel of facilitators. We also welcome the decision to Chamber this afternoon, more than half of the people support the African Initiative through a joint United of the Central African Republic are fleeing the ongoing Nations-African Union Special Envoy, and stress the violence there. The attacks on civilians, peacekeepers importance of an early appointment at this crucial and humanitarian workers continue, despite the peace time to advance the peace and reconciliation process. process led by the African Union Initiative for Peace Under the resolution, MINUSCA could also strengthen and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic. its substantive support for and mediation role in the It is clear that the United Nations Multidimensional African Initiative, in addition to the support it already Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African provides in the technical, logistical and security areas. Republic (MINUSCA) has a vital role to play to support Its role as coordinator of international support for the and protect the people of the Central African Republic. African Initiative will also be bolstered. We therefore thank France for its work and leadership in facilitating the discussion on MINUSCA’s mandate Thirdly and lastly, the resolution authorizes by making extensive efforts to find a compromise additional support from MINUSCA to the Central among all members of the Council. African authorities for the extension of the State’s authority throughout Central African territory. I am The Kingdom of the Netherlands welcomes the thinking in particular of the logistical support, albeit mandate’s renewal for a period of one year. We are limited, that MINUSCA will be able to provide to the pleased that the Mission’s role in the political process Central African armed forces trained or certified by and the mandate for the protection of civilians have been the European Union Military Training Mission in the significantly strengthened by comparison to last year’s Central African Republic, as well as the internal security mandate. We are also satisfied with MINUSCA’s newly forces, in order to allow them to gradually redeploy assigned task extending limited logistical support to within the Central African territory and conduct joint the country’s armed forces that have been trained by operations to ensure the safety of local populations. the European Union Training Mission in the Central Negotiations on that point have been difficult. That African Republic, which is essential to strengthening is a fact, and expectations should