UNITED

NATIONS

Security Council

Distr. GENERAL

S/1997/499

27 June 1997
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

LETTER DATED 27 JUNE 1997 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

OF NIGERIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT

OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

I have the honour to forward, on behalf of His Excellency General Sani Abacha, Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the text of the final communique, issued at the end of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of ECOWAS on the situation in Sierra Leone, which was held at Conakry, Republic of Guinea, on 26 June 1997. I would be grateful if the text could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Sicrned) Prof. Ibrahim A. GAMBARI

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

97-17745 (E) 270697

S/1997/499

English

Page 2

Annex

FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ

1. At the initiative of His Excellency General Sani Abacha, Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), following the request of His Excellency General Lansana Conte, President of the Republic of Guinea, and consultations with other Heads of State.in.the subregion, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of ECOWAS States met at Conakry, Republic of Guinea, on Thursday, 26 June 1997. His Excellency President Lansana Conte graciously accepted to host the meeting.

2. The following member States were represented:

- Republic of Benin

- Burkina Faso

- Republic of Cote d'Ivoire

- Republic of the Gambia

- Republic of Ghana

- Republic of Guinea

- Republic of Guinea-Bissau

- Republic of Liberia

- Republic of Mali

- Republic of the Niger

- Federal Republic of Nigeria

- Republic of Senegal

- Republic of Sierra Leone

- Togolese Republic

3. A delegation from the organization of African Unity (OAU), led by His Excellency Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary-General, was also in attendance.

4. The meeting was opened by His Excellency General Lansana Conte, President of the Republic of Guinea.

5. The meeting reviewed the situation in Sierra Leone since the coup d'etat of 25 May 1997.

6. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs exchanged views on the situation in

Sierra Leone and its consequences on peace and security in the subregion.

7. They explored ways and means for achieving a speedy restoration of constitutional order in Sierra Leone.

8. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs agreed that as far as Sierra Leone is concerned, the following objectives should be pursued by ECOWAS:

early reinstatement of the legitimate government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, the return of peace and security and the resolution of the issues of refugees and displaced persons.

9. Therefore, the Ministers:

(i) Reaffirmed the decision made in Harare by the Heads of State and Government at the thirty-third summit meeting of OAU on the situation in Sierra Leone;

(ii) Reaffirmed the support of ECOWAS for the Abidjan peace accord signed on 30 November 1996;

(iii) Stressed that no country should grant recognition to the regime that emerged following the coup d'etat of 25 May 1997, and to work towards the reinstatement of the legitimate government by a combination of three measures, namely, dialogue, imposition of sanctions and enforcement of an embargo and the use of force.

10. In order to increase the effectiveness of the above measures, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs recommended prior consultations among member States at the highest level.

11. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs deplored the bloodletting and other human losses that occurred during the coup d'etat of 25 May 1997. They warned the illegal regime against all acts of atrocities against Sierra Leonean citizens, foreign nationals living in Sierra Leone and personnel of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).

12. In order to ensure the implementation of decisions resulting from the recommendations of their meeting, they established a committee made up of Nigeria, Guinea, C6te d'Ivoire and Ghana, to be joined by the representatives of the OAU and ECOWAS secretariats.

13. The session submitted its report to the President of the host country and directed the Committee to convey to the Chairman of ECOWAS the results of their deliberations. The Committee also was entrusted with the task of monitoring developments in Sierra Leone and the implementation of the measures adopted, with a view to achieving the above-mentioned objectives. Within two weeks of this date the Committee shall return to the Chairman of ECOWAS and brief him on the outcome of their efforts.

14. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs called on the international community to support the ECOWAS initiative on Sierra Leone.

15. The meeting appealed to the international community to give emergency aid and assistance to the Republic of Guinea and other countries of the sub-region affected by the problem of refugees.

16. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs expressed deep gratitude to His Excellency General Lansana Conte, President of the Republic of Guinea, and to the Government and people of Guinea for the hospitality extended to them, and for the facilities put at their disposal.

Done in Conakry, 26 June 1997

The ministers for Foreign Affairs