Communiqué issued at Conakry
on 23 October 1997 at the conclusion of the meeting between the Ministers
of Foreign Affairs of the Committee of Five on Sierra Leone of the Economic
Community of West African States and the delegation representing Major
Johnny Paul Koromah
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministerial
Committee of Five on Sierra Leone held a meeting at Conakry on 22 and
23 October 1997.
In continuation of the negotiations initiated at Abidjan on 17 and
18 and 29 and 30 July 1997, the Committee held discussions with an enlarged
delegation representing Major Johnny Paul Koromah.
The meeting reviewed the situation in Sierra Leone since the breakdown
of negotiations between the Committee of Five and the representatives
of the junta on 30 July 1997. It recalled the ECOWAS decisions concerning
the monitoring of the ceasefire, the imposition of sanctions and the
embargo, as well as the restoration of peace to Sierra Leone by the
ECOWAS Military Observer Group (ECOMOG). It also recalled Security Council
resolution 1132 (1997) of 8 October 1997 placing an embargo on Sierra
Leone.
The Committee of Five and the junta's delegation agreed to accelerate
efforts towards the peaceful resolution of the Sierra Leonian crisis.
To that end, the Committee of Five and the representatives of Major
Johnny Paul Koromah adopted an ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone and
a timetable for its implementation over a six-month period with effect
from 23 October 1997.
It is recognized that Corporal Fodey Sankoh, as a leader of the Revolutionary
United Front (RUF), could continue to play an active role and participate
in the peace process. In the spirit of the Abidjan Accord and in the
context of this agreement, Corporal Sankoh is expected to return to
his country to make his contribution to the peace process.
The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides
for:
The reinstatement of the legitimate Government of President Tejan
Kabbah within a period of six months;
The immediate cessation of hostilities;
Cooperation of the junta with ECOMOG in order to enforce the sanctions
peacefully;
Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants;
Provision of humanitarian assistance;
Return of refugees and displaced persons;
Immunities and guarantees to the leaders of the coup d'état
of 25 May 1997;
Modalities for broadening the power base in Sierra Leone.
The Committee of Five and the representatives of Major Johnny Paul Koromah agreed to continue negotiations towards effective
and prompt implementation of the peace plan.
The meeting renewed its appeal to the international community to provide appropriate humanitarian assistance to the
refugees and displaced persons and to facilitate their return.
The meeting reiterated its appeal to the international community to provide adequate assistance to the neighbouring countries
of Sierra Leone, which have recorded an increased influx of refugees on their territory.
The meeting expressed its appreciation to the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity for their
cooperation with ECOWAS and appealed to them for material, logistic and financial support to ECOMOG to enable it to carry
out the mandate given by the Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Security Council.
The Committee expressed its deep gratitude to General Lansana Conte, President of the Republic of Guinea, Head of State, and to
the Government and people of Guinea for the excellent facilities put at their disposal and for the hospitality accorded to all the
delegations.
Posted by USIP Library on: March 26, 2002
Source Name: Text e-mailed from the United Nations Information Centre, Washington, D.C., January 7, 2002.
Source Document Number: U.N. Doc. No. S/1997/824
