SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RESUMPTION OF INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE IN SUN CITY

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RESUMPTION OF INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE IN SUN CITY

The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the opening of the meeting of the inter-Congolese dialogue in Sun City on 25 February.  Following a successful preparatory meeting in Gaborone, and the official opening of the dialogue in Addis Ababa, the Sun City meeting represents a unique opportunity for the Congolese parties to engage in substantive political discussion and agree on a new political dispensation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Secretary-General urges all the Congolese parties to the dialogue, invited by the Facilitator, to attend the meeting and to participate in its proceedings in a constructive spirit.  The Congolese parties have a primary responsibility in ensuring the success of the dialogue.

The Secretary-General commends the Facilitator and his team for their tireless efforts to ensure that the process is open, representative and as inclusive as possible.  He reiterates his strong support for the work of the Facilitator and calls on all the parties to fully cooperate with him.

The Secretary-General thanks the donor countries for their support and commends the Government of South Africa for hosting the upcoming session of the dialogue.

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