Statement / by the President of the Security Council

Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 5509th meeting, 9 Aug. 2006, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "Peace consolidation in West Africa"]

Stresses the importance of addressing the issue of peace consolidation in West Africa in a comprehensive and coordinated manner; stresses the primary role of each West African Government in peace consolidation for the benefit of all citizens; underlines the crucial importance of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants; reiterates the importance of finding effective solutions to the problem of refugees and internally displaced persons in the area; urges the international community to provide adequate resources as part of a coordinated humanitarian response strategy to improve the human security of the people of West Africa in need of such protection; stresses the need to ensure improved coordination of donor initiatives in order to make the best use of available resources; further stresses the need for continued and enhanced cooperation between the UN, ECOWAS and the African Union in peace consolidation initiatives; underscores the importance and the role of the Peacebuilding Commission in assisting countries emerging from conflict to achieve sustainable peace and stability; requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the ECOWAS secretariat, to submit to it by the end of the year a report with recommendations on the cooperation between the UN missions deployed in the region and on the cross-border issues in West Africa.

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