Security Council extends UN force for two months, as talks with Chad continuecontinue

The UN Security Council on Friday extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic and Chad until May 15, with the discussions still going on about the future of the operation.

A resolution, unanimously adopted by the 15-nation Security Council on Friday morning, approved the two-month technical roll- over of the mission known as MINURCAT, which was set up in 2007 to ensure the security of hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Sudanese region of Darfur, other displaced persons and humanitarian workers.

The new resolution was adopted after recent discussions between the world body and Chadian authorities.

The government of Chad had called for the withdrawal of the military component of MINURCAT, stating that it had served its purpose and that it was better for Chadian forces to take over security responsibilities.

Last Wednesday, Chad's ambassador to the UN Ahmad Allam-mi said in a letter addressed to the president of the Security Council that Chad had reconsidered its decision requesting the withdrawal of MINURCAT, which is tasked with protecting refugees on the border with Darfur.

"The government agrees to a technical extension of the mandate of the mission for a two-month period beginning March 16, 2010," said the letter.

Last week, UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy told reporters that a two-month extension, which was agreed with the Chadian government, would "give some time to try to find agreement with the Chadian authorities on the future of MINURCAT in Chad."

Le Roy, who was recently in Chad to discuss the issue with the leaders of the African country, added that many Council members have stressed the importance of keeping the mission on the ground.

At a daily press conference Friday at the UN Headquarters in New York, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky reiterated that the extension is "technical."

"In the meantime the UN will continue discussions on the future of MINURCAT beyond the 15th of May," Nesirky said. "The UN's clear presence is for MINURCAT to stay with the appropriate level of troops to fulfill the mandate given by the Security Council."

Source:Xinhua