SECRETARY-GENERAL REITERATES CALL TO ALL PARTIES IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ALL CIVILIANS
Press Release
SG/SM/6672
AFR/90
SECRETARY-GENERAL REITERATES CALL TO ALL PARTIES IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ALL CIVILIANS
19980811 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General continues to follow closely the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is disturbed at reported violations of the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and about acts of intimidation and violence against humanitarian workers and other international personnel, as well as reports of recruitment of child soldiers.
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about instances of ethnically- motivated persecution by the parties to the conflict. He reiterates his call to all parties to respect the human rights and dignity of all civilians regardless of their origin, to uphold the standards and principles of international humanitarian law, to ensure the safety of United Nations personnel and all humanitarian workers operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to guarantee them free access to people in need of assistance.
The Secretary-General welcomes the four-nation fact-finding mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighbouring countries decided upon by the Heads of State of the sub-region at their recent summit in Victoria Falls. He also welcomes the dispatch of a Organization of African Unity (OAU) mediation team to the Great Lakes region. The Secretary-General hopes that these initiatives will encourage the parties concerned to settle their differences peacefully.
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