SC/7037
23 March 2001

SECURITY COUNCIL STATES DETERMINATION
TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT
SEPTEMBER 2000 SUMMIT COMMITMENTS


NEW YORK, 22 March (UN Headquarters) -- The Security Council this morning expressed its determination to intensify efforts to translate the September 2000 Council Summit commitments into practical results, to ensure it plays an effective role in the maintenance of international peace and security, especially in Africa.

In a statement read out by this month’s Council President, Anatoliy Zlenko, Foreign Minister of Ukraine, the Council noted the progress made thus far in meeting September’s commitments, and also acknowledged the importance of the views of States that are not members of the Council, which were expressed in an open debate on the issue on 7 March.

The Council committed itself to further reviews of its progress, with active participation of States that are not members of the Council. It underlined the need for closer cooperation within the United Nations system and with regional and subregional organizations in addressing challenges to peace and security -- including the root cases of conflict. It also announced its intention to consider and act on a series of reports on maintaining peace, including the forthcoming report on conflict prevention from the Secretary-General and that of its own Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions.

The meeting, which commenced at 10:30 a.m., was adjourned at 10:36 a.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of the statement, which will be issued as document S/PRST/2001/10, is as follows:

"The Security Council recalls the decisions and recommendations contained in the declaration on ensuring an effective role for the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security, particularly in Africa, adopted at its meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government in the course of the Millennium Summit (resolution 1318 (2000) of 7 September 2000, annex), and the open debate held on 7 March 2001 to review its implementation. The Council takes note with interest of the important views expressed by non-members at this debate.

"The Security Council notes the progress achieved in translating the commitments made at its Summit meeting into practical results and expresses its determination to intensify efforts to this end. The Council underlines the importance of the Declaration as a contribution towards the development of a well-targeted strategy and shared vision in the maintenance of international peace and security and of the deeper and broader involvement of Member States and the wider international community in that regard.

"The Security Council will consider and take appropriate action on the Secretary-General’s forthcoming report on conflict prevention, his recommendations on the strengthening of the United Nations capacity to develop peace-building strategies, the report prepared by its Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions, and the recommendations on improving the three-way relationship between the Council, the troop-contributing countries and the Secretariat to be prepared by its Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations, and reiterates its intention to review periodically the implementation of its resolution 1327 (2000) of 13 November 2000 on strengthening peacekeeping operations.

"The Security Council underlines the need for closer cooperation and interaction within the United Nations system in addressing the challenges to peace and security, including the root causes of conflicts, and intends to continue taking concrete steps in advancing this goal. The Council also expresses its willingness to continue to develop productive working relationships with regional and subregional organizations in addressing conflict.

"The Security Council decides to conduct further reviews, with the active participation of non-members, of the implementation of the commitments made at its meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government."

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