Ireland and its partners in the European Union are following closely the situation in Liberia.
The Agreement, signed in Cotonou, Benin, last July by the three main Liberian parties establishes a framework for a settlement and contains decisions on political, humanitarian and refugee matters. It was welcomed by the European Community which called on all Liberian parties to implement its terms.
The UN is aware of the need for the disarming of the rival factions, particularly in the light of its experience in Angola. Under the terms of the Cotonou Agreement, the various factions and the interim government agreed to disarm and demobilise under the control of ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) and the UN. However, the planned ECOMOG reinforcements have been delayed and, of the 300 UN observers, only 122 have arrived to date. The disarmament and demobilisation programme has been delayed pending their arrival.
UN Security Council Resolution 788, adopted on 19 November 1992, imposed a mandatory arms embargo on Liberia. Ireland has taken the necessary measures to comply with this embargo.
It is clear that a significant international effort will be required to help rebuild Liberia after more than four years of civil war. In a statement on 29 September welcoming the Cotonou Agreement, the European Community said that it was willing to consider what assistance it would be able to provide in the context of a return to peace in Liberia. We hope that other governments, including the United States, will be able to do likewise.
Ireland continues to monitor the situation and will support efforts in the European Union and the United Nations to facilitate the peace process.
