Ministar savjetnik RH pri Ujedinjenim narodima Vice Skracic održao je govor na raspravi Vijeca sigurnosti UN-a u svezi situacije u Sierra Leone.
Mr. President,
Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. Michael von der Schulenburg for the presentation of the first report of the Secretary General on the United Nations integrated peace building office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL), for his useful comments and remarks. At the same time, I would like to thank Mr. Ambassador Majoor, in his capacity as the Chair of the country-specific configuration of PBC, and the Permanent Representative of SL for their valuable contributions to this debate.
Croatia is pleased to note the successful transition from the United Nations integrated office for Sierra Leone to UNIPSIL, which brings together the whole UN family in Sierra Leone, their programs, activities and funds. We are of the opinion that current UNIPSIL model has already started to bear fruit and produce further positive results.
We would like to commend two major political parties – the All Peoples' Party and Sierra Leone Peoples Party – for their continuing constructive and, as we are informed by the Secretary General, cordial interaction. This new climate largely contributes to the stability of the country and the prevention of conflicts. However, it is a fact that Sierra Leone is still divided along ethnic and geographic lines and that there is an urgent need for further dialog and cooperation between all relevant stakeholders.
Croatia commends the Sierra Leone's government for, and let me quote the report here, making “the fight against corruption a key element of its reform platform”. We welcome the decentralization of the work of the Anti-Corruption Commission and opening of its offices in the northern and eastern regions of the country. We find particularly important the development of an action plan with the main aim to address the growing threats coming from rising illicit drug trafficking and organized crime, based on the ECOWAS Action Plan adopted at the Ministerial Conference on Illicit Drug Trafficking, held last year. It brings together different security agencies under standard operating procedures with a clear division of work and responsibilities, which is an approach that we fully support.
We welcome the first “State of Human Rights Report” produced by the newly operational National Human Rights Commission, as well as programs and activities of the Commission. At the same time, we encourage the Government to continue to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including the repatriations programs for victims of the civil conflict.
Croatia strongly supports SSR in Sierra Leone, since exactly the security institutions are the major guarantors of peace consolidation and democratic governance. We commend UNIPSIL for its substantial input in the development of policing standards in the country and attempts aimed at strengthening partnership between the police and local communities.
On the other hand, it is evident that despite the progress reported, much remains to be done. The main challenges that Sierra Leone's authorities are faced with, be they immediate or short term – like rising food and fuel prices, drugs trafficking or piracy – or medium or long term – like under-development or youth unemployment – all pose serious threats to the gains achieved up to date. The level of success of Sierra Leone's government in confronting these obstacles will largely define the future of that country.
In that regard, we welcome President Koroma's Agenda for Change, which aims at the fundamental transformation of the economy through economic growth and human development. At the same time it clearly indentifies the main priorities and proposes avenues of action. It represents a major change in attitude from aid dependence and recovery to growth and development, through the creation of a conducive environment for private sector development and stronger inclusion of the Diaspora. There is no doubt that firm political leadership and continued international support will be required to implement this ambitious agenda.
Equally so, we welcome the simultaneous development of the UN Family Joint Vision, which reflects a strategic framework outlining UN priorities in Sierra Leone and effectively channeling all available resources. We hope that these mutually reinforcing documents will significantly accelerate the socio-economic recovery of the country and ensure permanent stabilization of its peace and security.
We commend the Peace Building Commission for the crucial role it is playing in Sierra Leone in attracting continuous donor support to this country. We welcome the second progress report on the implementation of the commitments contained in the Peace Building Cooperation Framework, as well as recommendations contained therein on the required next steps.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Priopćenja
