UNITED NATIONS INVESTIGATIVE TEAM WILL TRAVEL TO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ON 23 AUGUST
Press Release
HR/4334
UNITED NATIONS INVESTIGATIVE TEAM WILL TRAVEL TO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ON 23 AUGUST
19970820 GENEVA, 20 August (UN Information Service) -- The head of the Secretary-General's investigative team for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Atsu-Koffi Amega, made the following statement today at a press conference at the Palais des Nations, Geneva:On 15 July, the Secretary-General of the United Nations informed the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of his decision to appoint a team under his authority to investigate the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law allegedly committed in the country since 1 March 1993. The investigative team, which I have the honour to head, also comprises Reed Brody and Andrew Chigovera.
The team gathered in Geneva on 13 August in order to elaborate its methodology and work plan and to listen to presentations from concerned United Nations programmes, humanitarian organizations and non-governmental organizations.
This preparatory and conceptual work is now coming to an end, and the team will travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 23 August.
The Secretary-General has been able to identify an initial amount of $2.1 million from the regular budget of the United Nations to cover the immediate needs of the team. In order to collect additional funds, we have made initial contacts with donor countries. Moreover, this morning the Officer-in-Charge of the High Commissioner for Human Rights sent a letter to Member States asking them to do everything possible to aid the team to successfully fulfil its mandate.
We owe it to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to shed light on the tragic events that have occurred there. The prosperity of the Congolese nation and the future of the observance of human rights depend on it.
We acknowledge with satisfaction the multiple expressions of cooperation by the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and count on a continuation of these positive arrangements. This will undoubtedly allow the team to advance the causes of justice, peace and stability, not only in that country but throughout the region and the world. * *** *