Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 10, 2003
UN sees former President's interference as threat to peace in Liberia
The United Nations Security Council said Thursday that attempts by former President Charles Taylor to interfere with events in Liberia could threaten the peace agreements in that country.
The United Nations Security Council said Thursday that attempts by former President Charles Taylor to interfere with events in Liberia could threaten the peace agreements in that country.
Speaking after a council meeting, Council President US Ambassador John Negroponte said the council had agreed to a press statement in which they "expressed concern that former President Charles Taylor is still attempting to influence events in Liberia and noted that any interference from Mr. Taylor could threaten thecarefully constructed peace agreement in Liberia."
The 15-member council had heard a report from UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hedi Annabi on Liberia, where the UN has recently taken command of a force of about 5,000 troops. President Taylor left the country in August.
"One of the concerns that was expressed, and also corroborated by Assistant Secretary-General Annabi, is the fact that he is in communication with some of his supporters in Liberia, even though that is not consistent with the terms of his exile, and we think that his activities need to be curbed so that he does not remain in political contact with his former supporters," Negroponte said.
The council underscored the importance of a program to "demobilize, disarm, reintegrate and repatriate" combatants to restore peace and security for Liberia and urged all parties to commit to such a program immediately, according to the statement.