COUNCIL CALLS FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO CONFLICT IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, INCLUDING IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE, WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN FORCES
Press Release
SC/6569
COUNCIL CALLS FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO CONFLICT IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, INCLUDING IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE, WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN FORCES
19980831 In Presidential Statement, Council Calls For Political Dialogue, Protection of Civilian PopulationExpressing its deep concern about the current conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, "which poses a serious threat to regional peace and security", the Security Council this afternoon called for a peaceful solution to the conflict, including an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of all foreign forces.
In a statement read out by its President, Danilo Turk (Slovenia), the Council also called for the initiation of political dialogue with a view to national reconciliation, and expressed support for all the regional diplomatic initiatives for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
The Council expressed alarm at the plight of the civilian population throughout the country and called for its protection. It urged all parties to respect and protect human rights and respect humanitarian law, in particular, the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977, as applicable to them.
The Council called for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies to the needy, and for unrestricted access by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to all detainees. It urged all parties to guarantee the safety and security of United Nations and humanitarian personnel.
The Council said the problems of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be solved on the basis of a process of all-inclusive national reconciliation which fully respected the equality and harmony of all ethnic groups and led to the holding of democratic, free and fair elections as soon as possible.
The Council reaffirmed the obligation for respect of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and
the other States in the region and the need for all States to refrain from any interference in each other's internal affairs.
It encouraged the Secretary-General to continue to consult urgently with regional leaders in coordination with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) about ways to bring about a peaceful and durable solution to the conflict. The Secretary-General was also to keep the Council informed about developments and his own efforts.
The Council reaffirmed the importance of holding an international conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region under the auspices of the United Nations and the OAU.
The meeting, which was called to order at 5:26 p.m., was adjourned at 5:33 p.m.
The full text of the presidential statement, which will be issued as document S/PRST/1998/26, is as follows:
"The Security Council expresses its deep concern about the current conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which poses a serious threat to regional peace and security. The Security Council expresses alarm at the plight of the civilian population throughout the country.
"The Security Council reaffirms the obligation to respect the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other States in the region and the need for all States to refrain from any interference in each other's internal affairs. In this context, the Council calls for a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of all foreign forces, and the initiation of a peaceful process of political dialogue with a view to national reconciliation. The Council expresses support for the regional diplomatic initiatives aimed at a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The Council expresses support for all the regional diplomatic initiatives aimed at a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The problems of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be solved on the basis of a process of all-inclusive national reconciliation which fully respects the equality and harmony of all ethnic groups and which leads to the holding of democratic, free and fair elections as soon as possible.
"The Security Council urges all parties to respect and protect human rights and respect humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977, as applicable to them. It condemns reported summary executions, torture, harassment and detention of civilians based on their ethnic origin, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, the killing or wounding of combatants who have laid down their weapons, hate
Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6569 3922nd Meeting (PM) 31 August 1998
propaganda, sexual violence and other abuses by any side. In particular, the Council calls for the protection of the civilian population. It recalls the unacceptability of the destruction or rendering useless of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, and in particular emphasizes the unacceptability of using cuts in the electricity and water supply as a weapon against the population. The Council reaffirms that all persons who commit or order the commission of grave breaches of the above- mentioned instruments are individually responsible in respect of such breaches.
"The Security Council calls for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies to those in need in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It calls for unrestricted access by the ICRC to all detainees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It urges all parties to guarantee the safety and security of United Nations and humanitarian personnel.
"The Council encourages the Secretary-General to continue to consult, as a matter of urgency, with regional leaders in coordination with the Secretary- General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) about ways to bring about a peaceful and durable solution to the conflict, and to keep it informed about developments and his own efforts. It reaffirms the importance of holding an international conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region under the auspices of the United Nations and the OAU.
"The Security Council will follow the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo closely. It will remain actively seized of the matter."
* *** *