'DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND PEACE IN CENTRAL AFRICA' TO BE THEME OF UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE IN BRAZZAVILLE IN JANUARY
Press Release
DC/2564
'DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND PEACE IN CENTRAL AFRICA' TO BE THEME OF UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE IN BRAZZAVILLE IN JANUARY
19961112 A subregional conference on the theme "Democratic Institutions and Peace in Central Africa" is to be held in Brazzaville, Congo, from 20 to 24 January 1997. It will be organized by the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, to examine the evolution of the democratic process in the subregion with a view to establishing a lasting peace in the countries of Central Africa.At their first summit meeting, held in Yaounde, Cameroon, on 8 July 1996, a Non-Aggression Pact between the countries of the region was signed, and the heads of State and government of the countries which are members of the Committee stressed the urgent necessity for States in the subregion to establish, encourage and sustain participatory systems of governance as a means of preventing conflicts.
The heads of States also called for the organization of training seminars for officers in the armed forces, republican guard, gendarmerie and police forces of the Central African States, in order to promote a culture of peace by explaining, once again, the role of those forces in a democratic context. In addition, the Brazzaville Conference will emphasize the primacy of the rule of law and the role of the armed forces in a democratic system.
Thus, following the signature of the Non-Aggression Pact between the States, the Brazzaville Conference will focus on issues relating to security and peace within the States of the subregion.
The Conference is open to the governments of the 11 countries which are members of the Standing Advisory Committee (Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and Zaire), as well as to political parties, civil society, non- governmental organizations and associations and researchers working in the fields of peace and democracy.
To facilitate the organization of the Conference, the Bureau of the Committee is calling on the international community to provide material support.
For further information, please contact the secretariat of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York: telephone: (212) 963-2379; fax (212) 963-1121.
* *** *