UNITED

NATIONS

Security Council

Distr.

GENERAL

S/PRST/1997/29

27 May 1997

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

At the 3781^st meeting of the Security Council, held on 27 May 1997 in connection with the Councils consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Sierra Leone", the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

"The Security Council is deeply concerned about the military coup d'etat in Sierra Leone, especially when the United Nations is assisting the process of reconciliation in that country. It strongly deplores this attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government and calls for an immediate restoration of constitutional order. The Council takes note of the communiqué of the Central Organ of the organization of African Unity Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of 26 May 1997, and underlines the imperative necessity of implementing the Abidjan Agreement which continues to serve as a viable framework for peace, stability and reconciliation in Sierra Leone.

"The Security Council strongly condemns the violence which has been inflicted on both local and expatriate communities, in particular United Nations and other international personnel serving in the country. It recalls the obligations of all concerned to ensure the protection of United Nations and other international personnel in the country, and calls for an end to the looting of premises and equipment belonging to the United Nations and international aid agencies.,,

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