United Nations S/PV.6701 Security Council Provisional Sixty-seventh year : 6701st meeting Wednesday, 11 January 2012, 3 p.m. New York President: Ms. Nkoana-Mashabane ........................... (South Africa) Members: Azerbaijan ..................................... Mr. Mammadyarov China ......................................... Mr. Li Baodong Colombia ...................................... Mr. Osorio France ......................................... Mr. Briens Germany ....................................... Mr. Wittig Guatemala ...................................... Mr. Rosenthal India .......................................... Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri Morocco ....................................... Mr. Loulichki Pakistan ....................................... Mr. Raza Bashir Tarar Portugal ....................................... Mr. Moraes Cabral Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Zhukov Togo .......................................... Mr. Menan United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .... Sir Mark Lyall Grant United States of America ........................... Mr. DeLaurentis Agenda The situation in Somalia Letter dated 9 January 2012 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2012/19) This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the 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-506. 12-20465 (E) *1220465* S/PV.6701 The meeting was called to order at 3.15 p.m. Union Peace and Security Council could benefit significantly from such political engagement, which Adoption of the agenda would assist us in developing a greater strategic approach to developments in Somalia. The agenda was adopted. Today’s briefing on Somalia is taking place at a The situation in Somalia time when a ray of hope is finally beginning to flicker behind the dark clouds that have overshadowed the Letter dated 9 January 2012 from the country for too long. While the situation in Somalia Secretary-General addressed to the President still involves significant challenges, the Transitional of the Security Council (S/2012/19) Federal Government (TFG), in the words of the The President: Under rule 37 of the Council’s Secretary-General, “with determination and proper provisional rules of procedure, I invite the support … can begin to anchor itself across Somalia” representatives of Burundi, Kenya, Somalia and (S/2011/759, para.89). Uganda to participate in today’s meeting. Through our collective endeavours, the future of Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules Somalia can today be firmly placed on a trajectory of of procedure, I invite Mr. Lynn Pascoe, Under- progress and stability. Recent positive developments at Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to participate in the political, military and humanitarian levels present today’s meeting. the international community, and the Somalis in particular, with a window of opportunity to turn the Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules page and advance towards peace, security and of procedure, I invite His Excellency Mr. Ramtane development. Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, to participate in today’s meeting. We can all share the optimism of the Secretary- General, who, during his historic visit to Mogadishu, I wish to welcome the participation at this stated that a few years ago people tended to think of meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Somalia only as a place of famine or bloodshed. It was Azerbaijan and Kenya, and the Minister of Defence of indeed a forgotten conflict. The Secretary-General Uganda. challenged all of us to change the way we see Somalia. The Security Council will now begin its Somalia has been high on the list of priorities of consideration of the item on its agenda. the Secretary-General. We wish to place on record our I wish to draw the attention of Council members gratitude for his continued efforts to assist Somalia as to document S/2012/19, which contains a letter dated it embarks on the road to recovery and stability. 9 January 2012 from the Secretary-General addressed Through his efforts and the active engagement of the to the President of the Security Council. Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union, successes have been recorded at several I shall now make a statement in my capacity as levels. the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa. The Kampala Accord of June 2011 and the adoption of the political road map in September 2011 It gives me great pleasure to preside over this to end the transition by 23 August have been widely important meeting on Somalia, at which we will supported by the Transitional Federal Institutions and receive briefings of the United Nations Secretariat and the international community. Most recently, at a Somali the African Union Commission, as well as the troop- national consultative conference held in Garowe from contributing countries to the African Union Mission in 21 to 23 December 2011, participants reached an Somalia (AMISOM). Today’s meeting is a practical agreement on the size of the new constituent assembly demonstration of the close cooperation we seek to and the basis for representation therein, the finalization enhance between the Security Council and the African of a federal constitution by April, and the creation of a Union Peace and Security Council in matters related to post-transition bicameral parliamentary structure peace and security on the African continent. We are within defined timelines. convinced that the Security Council and the African 2 12-20465 S/PV.6701 Despite the fact that some deadlines have been The humanitarian situation in Somalia remains missed, I am encouraged by the progress made thus far dire. However, improvements are being made, with two in the implementation of the road map. We wish to of the six famine-declared regions having recently encourage the Transitional Federal Institutions to graduated to their pre-famine status. That is a welcome utilize the existing window of opportunity to achieve development. We encourage the international measurable results, such as the adoption of the national community to continue its efforts to save millions from security and stabilization plan by Parliament, the famine. finalization of the constitution and the reform of In conclusion, through our collective efforts, we Parliament. must also communicate a positive message to the We call on all other Somali stakeholders to ordinary people of Somalia that they have not been demonstrate the requisite political will and the abandoned by the international community. We must determination to implement the Kampala Accord and communicate the message that peace, stability and the political road map of September 2011 so as to meet development are not the privilege of some, but are to the agreed deadlines. We also strongly urge the parties be enjoyed by all humankind, irrespective of station or to resolve the current crisis within the Transitional geographical location. We must not fail Somalia and its Federal Parliament. people. The Transitional Federal Government forces, I now resume my functions as President of the supported by AMISOM, have liberated Mogadishu Council. from Al-Shabaab control. Additionally, the armed I give the floor to Mr. Pascoe. forces of Kenya, deployed in southern Somalia, and of Ethiopia, near eastern Somalia, have placed Mr. Pascoe: I appreciate the opportunity to brief Al-Shabaab forces under severe pressure. We must use the Security Council today on the situation in Somalia. the security space created by AMISOM and at great The participation of high-level representatives cost to Uganda and Burundi, which have valiantly underscores the commitment of the international fought alongside TFG forces, to expand the TFG’s community to address the conflict that has been going control over Mogadishu. Similarly, we must use the on in Somalia for the past two decades. opportunities being presented in eastern and southern Much has been achieved in the past few years, yet Somalia to extend the governance control of the TFG many challenges continue to plague our attempts to over a larger territory of Somalia and establish security stabilize the political, security and humanitarian in those newly liberated areas. situation. We continue to work closely with the African We note with concern, however, that AMISOM’s Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on operational and deployment capabilities continue to be Development (IGAD) and our many international hampered by resource gaps, including arrears in the partners to move the peacemaking efforts in Somalia reimbursement for contingent-owned equipment and forward. I would like to sincerely thank this Council the lack of force multipliers and force enablers to for its consistent support to our efforts in Somalia. AMISOM. Commissioner Lamamra and certain AU member In that regard, we welcome the recently States will present in detail the requirements for completed African Union-United Nations joint expanding the African Union Mission in Somalia assessment mission, which was deployed to develop a (AMISOM) operation, following the