Update: the Secretary-General's report on Africa.

• Position: Includes related article - Kofi Annan

The peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights ... and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.

- Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Security Council met on 24 September, at the level of foreign ministers, to assess progress in achieving peace and security in Africa, one year after its first meeting on the issue. On this occasion, the ministers focussed on the Secretary-General's report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, and expressed its determination to improve its ability to make its responses to conflicts more efficient and effective. It stressed that the quest for peace in Africa required a comprehensive, concerted and determined approach, encompassing the eradication of poverty, the promotion of democracy, sustainable development and respect for human rights, as well as conflict prevention and resolution.

Costa Rica's Minister for External Relations and Worship, Roberto Rojas Lopez, said "at this stage we can affirm that our Organization [the United Nations] possesses sufficient political will and commitment to tackle the challenge of supporting Africa". The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, Robin Cook. committed his country to the goals of promoting African trade, reducing the region's debt and increasing development aid to African countries. United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright sought international support, over the next six months, for a voluntary moratorium on the sale of arms that could fuel conflicts in Africa. and called for negotiations, under the United Nations auspices, on a convention against illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, ammunition and explosives and other related materiel to conclude by the year 2000.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, Tang Jiaxuan, offered to provide training and assistance to African countries in the area of landmine clearance, technology and equipment. France's Minister for Foreign Affairs Hubert Vedrine pledged to assist in obtaining broader access to world trade.

Japan's Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura said his country's existing cooperation with Africa was part of a comprehensive strategy to address the problems of conflicts and development Minister for Foreign Affairs Jaime Gama of Portugal supported the expansion...