United Nations Radio

The Security Council has adopted a resolution paving the way for the establishment of a UN office in Somalia.

Security Council president John Sawers says the resolution, adopted on Thursday, creates the circumstances for the UN Political Office to move to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, or an interim location in the country.

"It gives backing to the political process that has begun. It provides UN authority for the protection efforts off the coast of Somalia for humanitarian convoys and other ships operating under and in support of UN-authorized activity. And it's a further signal to the Somali people of our readiness to continue to steadily build up the UN's engagement in Somalia."

Mr. Sawers told journalists that while the UN cannot bring peace to Somalia overnight, the resolution is a step towards it.

Somalia has been without a functioning central government since 1991.

For UN Radio, I'm Dianne Penn.

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