PRESS STATEMENT ON DEMOCRATIC REPULIC OF CONGO BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s press statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Security Council President Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria):

Members of the Council welcome the signing of the Luanda Agreement on the withdrawal of Ugandan forces from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, cooperation and normalization of relations between the two countries.  They are pleased to see that the process of withdrawal of foreign troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is moving ahead.

Members of the Council are extremely concerned by the gravity of the situation in the eastern part of the country.  They call for an immediate end to hostilities by all forces and armed groups in South Kivu.  They further stress that a cessation of fighting in the eastern part of the country is necessary in order for the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to be able to move ahead with the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, return or resettlement of armed groups and request the parties involved to create the conditions that will enable MONUC to carry out its mission.

Members of the Council demand the cessation of the massacres in Ituri, and particularly in Bunia, and recalls that, as long as its troops are there, Uganda is duty-bound to ensure the protection of the population.  They call on all States in the region to bring their influence to bear so as to put a stop to the massacres in Ituri.

Members of the Council appeal to all parties to work together to find an all-inclusive solution in respect of the results of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue.

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