United Nations

NEW YORK, 19 May (UN Headquarters) -- The Security Council this morning expanded the military component of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) to a maximum of 13,000 military personnel, including 260 military observers already deployed, convinced that the deterioration in security conditions on the ground necessitated its rapid reinforcement.

Adopting resolution 1299 (2000) unanimously, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, decided that the restrictions on the sale and supply of arms and related matériel to non-governmental forces in Sierra Leone set out in its previous resolution 1171 (1998) do not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related matériel for the sole use in Sierra Leone of those Member States cooperating with UNAMSIL or with the Government of Sierra Leone.  

Also by the text, the Council expressed its appreciation to all States who, in order to expedite the rapid reinforcement of the Mission, have accelerated the deployment of their troops to UNAMSIL, made available additional personnel, and offered logistical, technical and other forms of military assistance.  It called upon all those in a position to do so to provide further support.

When the Council met, it had before it an 18 May letter from Secretary-General Kofi Annan (document S/2000/446) in which he writes that the Council might wish to authorize the interim expansion of the force, since, as a result of recent attacks by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) against UNAMSIL personnel and the resumption of hostilities, it was deemed crucial to accelerate the deployment of military units that Member States had already committed for service, as well as to further reinforce the Mission's military component.  As a result of the reinforcement, currently under way, it is expected that the Mission's authorized strength of 11,100 will be exceeded in the next several days.

The meeting was called to order at 10:45 a.m. and adjourned at 10:51 a.m.

The full text of resolution 1299 (2000) reads, as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President on the situation in Sierra Leone,

"Having considered the letter of the Secretary-General to its President of 17 May (S/2000/446), and awaiting his next report,

"Convinced that the deterioration in security conditions on the ground necessitates the rapid reinforcement of the military component of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) to provide the Mission with additional resources to fulfil its mandate,

"1.   Decides that the military component of UNAMSIL shall be expanded to a maximum of 13,000 military personnel, including the 260 military observers already deployed;

"2. Expresses its appreciation to all States who, in order to expedite the rapid reinforcement of UNAMSIL, have accelerated the deployment of their troops to UNAMSIL, made available additional personnel, and offered logistical, technical and other forms of military assistance, and calls upon all those in a position to do so to provide further support;

"3. Decides, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, that the restrictions set out in paragraph 2 of its resolution 1171 (1998) of 5 June 1998 do not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related matériel for the sole use in Sierra Leone of those Member States cooperating with UNAMSIL and the Government of Sierra Leone;

"4. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."