Security Council concerned about economic, political situation

The UN Security Council has expressed deep concern over the mounting problems affecting the political and economic situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). In a statement issued on Thursday, Council President Jagdish Koonjul of Mauritius said the 15-member body had asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to harmonise the various initiatives taken at the regional level to restore calm and stability to CAR. He asked that this was to be carried out through his representative, Lamine Cisse, and in cooperation with the Organisation of African Unity. "Members of the Security Council welcomed the positive steps taken by the CAR authorities and called upon them to continue to facilitate the national dialogue and reconciliation," Koonjul added. Meanwhile, Chadian radio, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, reported that Francois Bozize had met a CAR delegation in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena, on Thursday. Following the meeting the head of the CAR delegation, Agba Otikpo Mezode, had said that there had been a "major breakthrough" in Bozize's case, the radio reported. "You know that if we officially agreed to receive Mr Bozize, it is because we are intent on Mr Bozize’s return to the CAR, given that the causes of the crisis have already subsided. We want him and his men to return to the CAR and to serve the nation," Mezode said in a radio interview. In November 2001, General Bozize, a former CAR army chief-of-staff, fled to the southern Chadian town of Sarh with about 300 of his armed supporters after security forces tried to arrest him. He was accused of involvement in a failed coup on 28 May, 2001. Since then, his supporters who remained in the CAR have had several confrontations with government forces along the CAR-Chad border.