UNSC/SUDAN: COUNCIL ADOPTS PRST ON CHAD/SUDAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000857 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CD CT PGOV PREL SU UNSC SUBJECT: UNSC/SUDAN: COUNCIL ADOPTS PRST ON CHAD/SUDAN RELATIONS USUN NEW Y 00000857 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) In an April 25 formal meeting, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a Congolese-drafted Presidential Statement (PRST) addressing the situation between Chad and Sudan. Last-minute edits to the text resulted in deletion of our proposed reference to a pending European Union Mission to Chad, since even EU Council Members knew nothing about it. The PRST was adopted as UN document S/PRST/2006/19; text in Paragraph 2. ¶2. (U) Begin PRST text: The Security Council welcomes the Secretary-General's briefing on 18 April 2006 on Chad/Sudan relations and endorses his deep concerns over the political and security situation and the instability along Chad's borders with Sudan, as well as over the possible spillover effects of these crises on neighboring countries and the entire region. The Security Council encourages the Secretary-General to continue his consultations with relevant parties, in particular the African Union, on the matter and requests him to closely follow the situation and continue to keep the Security Council informed. The Security Council welcomes the fact-finding mission dispatched by the African Union in Chad and looks forward to its conclusions. The Security Council fully endorses the statement by the African Union Peace and Security Council of 13 April 2006 in which it strongly condemned the rebel attacks against N'djamena and the eastern town of Adre and reiterates that any attempt to seize power by force, pursuant to the 1999 Algiers Declaration of the African Unity Organization, would be regarded as unacceptable. The Security Council calls for political dialogue and a negotiated solution to the continuing crisis within Chad. The Security Council also reaffirms the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Chad and Sudan as well as all States in the region and calls on all Members to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. The Security Council calls upon on States in the region to cooperate in ensuring their common stability. The Security Council notes with deep concerns the deteriorating relations between Chad and Sudan and urges the Governments of the two countries to abide by their obligations under the 8 February 2006 Tripoli Agreement and to urgently start implementing the confidence-building measures which have been voluntarily agreed upon. Both Sudan and Chad must refrain from any actions that violate the border. The Security Council is concerned about the situation of the refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan and from the Central African Republic as well as the situation of the thousands of internally displaced persons in Chad. It therefore notes the decision by the Government of Chad not to expel the Sudanese refugees and urges the Government of Chad to continue supporting the efforts of humanitarian and relief agencies in the country in accordance with international principles governing the protection of refugees. The Security Council further reminds the right of all displaced persons who wish to do so to return to their home. It reminds all Governments in the region of their obligation to respect international humanitarian law. In this regard, the Security Council calls on donor countries to provide additional resources to respond to the emergency humanitarian situation in both Sudan and Chad. USUN NEW Y 00000857 002.2 OF 002 ¶3. (U) End PRST text. BOLTON