Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 5970th meeting, 4 Sept. 2008, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Somalia"]

Welcomes the signing of a peace and reconciliation Agreement ("the Djibouti Agreement") between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) in Djibouti on 19 Aug. 2008; takes note of the parties' request in the Djibouti Agreement that the UN, within a period of 120 days, authorise and deploy an international stabilisation force; requests that the Secretary-General elaborate on his contingency plans and provide, in consultation with the parties and other relevant stakeholders, a detailed and consolidated description of a feasible multinational force, its mandate and derived tasks, to include inter alia the size and geographical scope of that force, progressively deployed, and further provide a detailed concept of operations for a feasible UN peacekeeping operation; further requests the Secretary-General urgently to identify and approach States that might contribute the financial resources, personnel, equipment and services required, stands ready to support the Secretary-General in this regard, and calls upon States to respond favourably.

2 p.