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

PRESS STATEMENT ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the text of today's press statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congoby the President of the Security Council, Ole Peter Kolby (Norway):

Members of the Security Council are encouraged by the partnership between the Council and the Political Committee of the Lusaka Agreement, as illustrated by the latter’s swift endorsement (in its communiqué issued on 20 March) of Security Council resolution 1399 of 19 March 2002.

Members of the Security Council welcome the start made by the parties in implementing the demands of resolution 1399.  The members of the Council particularly welcome the withdrawal of RCD-Goma troops from Moliro.  They called on all the parties to comply with the other demands of resolution 1399 and provisions of the communiqué, in particular the withdrawal from Pweto, Kayaya, Yayama and the demilitarization of Kisangani.

The members of the Security Council call on the parties to resolve the status of all outstanding New Defensive Positions in a conclusive manner.  They also call on the parties to do everything possible to ensure the security and safety of MONUC personnel.

The members of the Council reiterate the importance of the full reopening of the river to commercial traffic.  They called on the Congolese parties to confirm the good will they have been expressing in this regard, and to translate it into acts.

Members of the Council welcome the resumption of the inter-Congolese dialogue in Sun City, South Africa.

Members of the Council will continue to follow attentively these developments.  They appeal to all parties for calm in order to facilitate the withdrawal of the respective parties to the agreed positions.  

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