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The United
Nations Security Council today condemned the continuing human
rights violations in Somalia - particularly attacks by armed
groups on innocent civilians and humanitarian personnel -
and urged Somali factions to participate in the peace process
initiated by the President of Djibouti.
In a statement
read out at an open meeting by Council President Jean-David
Levitte, the Council expressed "deep concern" at the ongoing
abuse of human rights and the deterioration of the humanitarian
situation, which had led to death, displacement and the outbreak
of diseases among the civilian population, particularly children.
It strongly
condemned attacks on civilians and humanitarian staff, and
urged Somali factions to respect humanitarian and human rights
law, ensure the safety of relief personnel and facilitate
the delivery of aid.
The Council
urged representatives of all social and political forces of
Somali society to participate in the Somali National Peace
and Reconciliation Conference in Djibouti, specifically urging
warlords and faction leaders to stop obstructing efforts to
achieve peace.
The Council
said it was ready to consider "taking appropriate steps regarding
the warlords and faction leaders who engage in such activities"
and urged all States to stop providing those individuals with
the means to carry out their destructive activities.
Reiterating
that the responsibility for achieving reconciliation rested
with the Somali people themselves, the Security Council welcomed
the initiative of the President of Djibouti towards restoring
peace and urged States and international organizations to
give those efforts political support and financial and technical
assistance.
On the
subject of the arms embargo against Somalia, the Security
Council reminded all States of their obligation to comply
with the measures imposed by its relevant resolution of 1992,
urging them to take "all necessary steps to ensure full implementation
and enforcement of the arms embargo.
" It also
urged States, UN and other international organizations to
report violations of the embargo.
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