Security Council calls for inclusive dialogue

The UN Security Council has called on the Liberian government to take additional measures to create a conducive environment for inclusive internal dialogue, the UN reported on Wednesday. Liberia must fully respect Security Council resolutions, the statement said, adding that Council members would review in November sanctions imposed on the country under resolution 1343 in March 2001. The Council said it supported the efforts of all parties, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, to promote reconciliation in Liberia. It also welcomed the appointment of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative for West Africa, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, and that of the head of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Liberia, Abou Moussa. Security Council President Stefan Tafrov said council members called on the presidents of the Mano River Union countries (Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone) to continue the Rabat Process, initiated by King Mohamed VI of Morocco in February, to further peace in the sub-region. Council members "noted the National Peace and Reconciliation Conference held between August and September and urged Liberians to cease all fighting immediately and resort to dialogue for the peaceful settlement of the conflict," the UN reported. The Security Council also "called on the parties [in Liberia] to work with the international community to promote free, transparent and inclusive election in 2003", the UN reported. Council members welcomed the recent inaugural meeting of the International Contact Group on Liberia, expressing support for its efforts to establish a cohesive political strategy for the resolution of conflict in Liberia and establishing peace in the Mano River Union.