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

Following is the text of the press statement made today by Alfonso Valdivieso (Colombia), President of the Security Council, on the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

Members of the Council were briefed by the Secretariat regarding recent developments in the DRC.

Members of the Security Council strongly condemned the renewed fighting between the RCD-National/MLC and RCD-K/ML in the North-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially the RCD-National/MLC offensive in Ituri (Mambasa, Komanda and Teturi) and the threat this has posed to the town of Beni.  They expressed their deep concerns over the serious violations of human rights taking place and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians caused by the recent military activities.

Members of the Security Council stressed that such fighting clearly violated the letter and spirit of the all-inclusive agreement on the transition, which was signed in Pretoria on 16 December and the truce that was brokered by the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) in Ituri.

Members of the Security Council also called on all Congolese parties to immediately cease hostilities and to implement the Pretoria Accord expeditiously by putting in place without delay the transitional arrangements.  In particular, they also called for the RCD-National/MLC to cease further offensive action, to meet with the RCD-K/ML leadership in the presence of diplomatic representatives, and for all parties involved in Ituri to cooperate with MONUC to put in place the truce that had been agreed, including the establishment of the military contact group, and to allow unhindered access to humanitarian relief.

Members of the Security Council also condemned the fighting between the RCD-Goma and armed groups in South Kivu (Uvira).

Members of the Security Council called upon all concerned to stop materiel support to the parties engaged in military activities in the North-east and in the Kivus.  

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