PRESS STATEMENT ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

PRESS STATEMENT ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is today’s press statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Ole Peter Kolby (Norway), President of the Security Council:

Members of the Council were briefed today by the Secretariat about recent military developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  They expressed their concern about the resumption of fighting in the east of the country, especially in the province of Katanga around Moliro.

Members of the Council called upon all parties to stop immediately the hostilities and respect fully their commitment to the ceasefire agreement.  The Council welcomed the commitment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to a unilateral ceasefire and withdrawal and called for immediate implementation.  The Council called on the other parties to act in the same manner.  The Council also reaffirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all States in the region.

Members of the Council welcomed the decision of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to deploy monitors in the area in order to monitor the ceasefire and the withdrawal of all the parties to their original positions.

Members of the Council welcomed the Sun City meeting of the inter-Congolese dialogue and renewed their appeal to all parties to participate in the meeting in a constructive spirit.

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