Ambassador DiCarlo:  On behalf of the United States, I would like to thank High Representative Solana for his briefing.  We greatly appreciate the efforts of the European Union to provide a safe and secure environment for MINURCAT to operate. 

EUFOR has provided invaluable security protection to refugees, internally displaced persons, and assistance workers.  EUFOR personnel have performed their jobs admirably under very difficult circumstances.  We recognize their contribution and ask Mr. Solana to convey to them our deepest gratitude for their efforts.

EUFOR member states have some of the finest and most experienced troops in the world who have gained unique experience these past six months while deployed to the region.  The proposed follow-on UN force would of course profit immensely from the continued participation of veterans of the EUFOR deployment.  We are very happy to note that some EUFOR member states have expressed interest in participating in the proposed follow-on UN force.

Mr. President, we remain very concerned about the continuing political, military, and security volatility in the region outlined in the Secretary-General’s report of September 12th.  In particular, we are deeply troubled that internally displaced persons and refugees in Chad and the Central African Republic continue to suffer due to political instability and general lawlessness and that Sudanese rebel movements continue to recruit from refugee camps in eastern Chad.  A follow-on UN force must build upon the EUFOR effort and develop the capacity to protect these vulnerable populations.

Mr. President, the United States also continues to support the presence of MINURCAT in the Central African Republic.  In CAR, nearly 25,000 IDPs and refugees and humanitarian aid workers are subject to criminal attacks and increasing banditry.  We believe that a UN military presence is needed in CAR to prevent insecurity that could potentials harm these populations.

We note that a well-trained and equipped security force must be in place prior to EUFOR’s withdrawal next March.  There must be a transition period of sufficient duration and with sufficient interaction between the departing and arriving forces prior to EUFOR’s departure. We hope that the EUFOR facilities will be transferred to the UN forces as this will help them to deploy in a timely manner.

Mr. President, the armed struggle within Chad continues.  We strongly encourage all parties to work diligently toward full implementation of the Dakar agreement and all existing peace agreements.  We commend the efforts by the Contact Group, and particularly the Government of Libya, for their work to support a comprehensive peace between Chad and Sudan.  We emphasize, as stated in the draft resolution before the Council today, that a “proper settlement of the Darfur issue and an improvement of relations between Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic will contribute to long term peace and stability in the region.”