Thank you, Mr. President. I thank you and your delegation for your leadership this month. We welcome the presence of the Foreign Minister of the Central African Republic here today, as well.
We support and welcome the extension of the Central African Republic Panel of Experts mandate and the renewal of the travel ban and asset freeze measures for a further 12 months. We thank the efforts of France to get this over the finish line.
Our goal is to promote peace and stability in CAR and across the region, and we believe the measures in this resolution aim to do just that. Specifically, today’s action helps ensure the Panel’s reporting continues, which spotlights key issues for the Central African people, the CAR government, and this Council.
On the arms embargo, the region is awash with guns and it’s time to stem the unfettered flow. If effectively implemented, this arms embargo will help silence the guns. Effective implementation in this case means a notification requirement which is critical for transparency. And it means, as this resolution calls for, that the CAR authorities must continue improving physical protection and accountability of weapons.
So, although this resolution calls for the relaxation of the arms embargo, we must ensure this does not endanger Central Africans, other civilians, MINUSCA personnel, UN staff, or humanitarian workers. Because the truth is, military actions alone will not resolve CAR’s crises. Good governance, credible security sector reform, transparent disarmament and reintegration, national dialogue, and justice and accountability are the most important steps toward peace.
To that end, we appreciate the CAR government’s efforts to address these issues through the revitalization of the country’s 2019 peace agreement and its dedication to the roadmap from the Luanda process.
The United States is committed to the Central African people and we are committed to finding and forging a durable peace. We will continue to work closely with the CAR government, fellow Council members, and all stakeholders to facilitate true security and prosperity for the country and the region.
Thank you.
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