UN Security Council Resolution 1981 on Côte d’Ivoire

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolution 1980 (2011), 1975 (2011), 1968 (2011), 1967 (2011), 1962 (2010), 1951 (2010), 1942 (2010) and 1933 (2010) and statements of its President relating to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire and in the subregion,

Recalling the inter-mission cooperation arrangements provided for in paragraphs 4 to 6 of Security Council resolution 1609 (2005) and in paragraph 6 of resolution 1938 (2010), recalling further paragraph 1 of resolution 1968 (2011), paragraphs 3 and 4 of resolution 1967 (2011) and paragraph 7 of resolution 1962 (2010),

Recalling its intention to consider authorizing the Secretary-General to redeploy further troops, as may be needed, between the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) on a temporary basis and mindful of the need to support UNMIL’s ability to carry out its mandate,

Recalling the letter of the Secretary-General dated 11 May 2011 (S/2011/297) stressing the essential role played by the assets deployed from UNMIL to UNOCI in the current challenging circumstances in Côte d’Ivoire,

Recalling the letter of the Secretary-General dated 9 May 2011 (S/2011/295) stressing the need to postpone the publication of his final report from 31 May to 30 June and the subsequent need for a technical rollover for the mission’s mandate to 31 July 2011, following the delay of the deployment of the assessment mission to Côte d’Ivoire,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Decides to extend until 31 July 2011 the mandate of UNOCI as set out in resolution 1975 (2011), 1962 (2010) and 1933 (2010);

2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it the final report referred to in paragraphs 18 and 19 of resolution 1962 (2010), including the findings and recommendations on UNOCI mandate following the assessment mission deployed to Côte d’Ivoire, no later than 30 June 2011;

3. Decides to authorize the Secretary-General, further to paragraph 1 of resolution 1968 (2011), paragraphs 3 and 4 of resolution 1967 (2011), paragraph 6 of resolution 1962 (2010), resolution 1951 (2010) and paragraphs 4 and 6 of resolution 1609 (2005), to extend up to 30 June 2011 the temporary redeployment from UNMIL to UNOCI of three infantry companies, one aviation unit comprised of two military utility helicopters and three armed helicopters with crews and further requests the Secretary General to provide it with an updated analysis and recommendations on the inter-mission cooperation arrangements by 15 June 2011;

4. Requests the support of troop- and police-contributing countries in that regard;

5. Requests the Secretary-General, further to paragraph 6 of resolution 1980 (2011), to keep it informed by 30 June 2011 in the final report referred to in paragraph 2 above and further in its next relevant reports on UNOCI and UNMIL, of developments, measures taken and efforts made in the coordination of UNOCI and UNMIL to assist respectively the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia in monitoring their border and surrounding areas, including on how the redeployed assets are assisting in this effort, with particular attention to any cross border movement of combatants or transfer of arms, and in this regard encourages UNOCI and UNMIL, within their mandates and limits of capabilities and areas of deployment, to assist respectively the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and of Liberia jointly in disarming those endangering national reconciliation and the consolidation of peace;

6. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Minutes

The President Mr. Araud (France) (spoke in French): Unless I hear any objection, under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure I invite the representative of Côte d’Ivoire to participate in this meeting.

It is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda.

Members of the Council have before them document S/2011/299, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France and Lebanon.

I wish to also draw the attention of Council members to documents S/2011/297 and S/2011/295, containing letters from the Secretary-General dated 11 May 2011 and 9 May 2011, respectively.

It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it.

I shall first call on members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting.

Ms. Rice (United States of America): The United States will support the draft resolution that is before us, but we would like to highlight an important point. The aviation assets on loan to the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) will be returned to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) no later than 30 June, pursuant to the draft resolution, in order to avoid destabilizing Liberia. We applaud the efforts of UNMIL’s peacekeepers to continue to fulfil their duties, despite having fewer assets — a sacrifice they generously made, and which we all deemed necessary, to assist UNOCI in a time of need.

Now, as Côte d’Ivoire begins to emerge from its crisis, we must not lose focus on Liberia. As Liberia enters its electoral season, with a referendum in August and a presidential election this fall, UNMIL must be fully equipped. We, as a Council, decided that UNMIL required specific assets to fulfil its mandate, and we must honour our commitment to ensuring that it has the tools on hand to do its job.

The United States has promised to support clear, credible and achievable mandates that are fully resourced and equipped. We must not jeopardize Liberia’s fragile peace even as we continue to work to consolidate the progress that we have seen of late in Côte d’Ivoire. This will be the last extension of the loan of UNMIL’s assets that the United States will support, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

The President (spoke in French): I shall now make a statement in my national capacity.

As the Secretary-General recalls in his most recent letters to the Security Council, the Council’s priority task is to stabilize Côte d’Ivoire. Reinforcements to Côte d’Ivoire of military helicopters attached to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) play an essential role in this. The main threats of subregional destabilization are now in Côte d’Ivoire. It is not the Council’s job to interfere in the management of logistical peacekeeping assets by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The Council has always supported UNMIL, which should continue to enjoy the resources it needs in the context of the democratic transition that began four years ago following the end of a 10-year crisis. In that spirit, on 15 June the Security Council must seize the opportunity and modalities for cooperation between UNMIL and the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire.

I resume my functions as President of the Council.

I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote.

A vote was taken by show of hands.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Gabon, Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America.

The President (spoke in French): There were
15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1981 (2011).

I call on the representative of Côte d’Ivoire.

Mr. Bamba (Côte d’Ivoire) (spoke in French): Like all States represented here, Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 1981 (2001). My delegation stresses that Côte d’Ivoire is in transition and gradually emerging from the recent crisis. The security situation remains volatile, particularly in the western part of the country, and must be strengthened. We call on the Security Council to act pragmatically and flexibly in allocating resources, particularly military.

The President (spoke in French): The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council will remain seized of the matter.

The meeting rose at 10.20 a.m.