Statement by Ministerial meeting of International Committee

 

supporting transition in Democratic Republic of Congo

Following is the statement issued today by the Ministerial-Level Meeting of the Members of the International Committee in Support of the Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

“The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Member States of the International Committee in Support of the Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CIAT) comprising Angola, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Gabon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States, Zambia, the African Union/African Commission and the European Union/European Commission and convened by the United Nations, held a High-Level Meeting, on 22 September 2004, in the margins of the fifty-ninth  session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, under the chairmanship of the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. 

“Recognizing that the establishment of the Government of Transition and National Unity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in accordance with the Global and All Inclusive Agreement of 17 December 2002, provides the only acceptable framework for resolving the crisis in the DRC,

“Noting with concern the lack of progress in the implementation of the main transitional tasks including the adoption of necessary legislation for elections, advancing security sector reform, and extending State authority, 

“The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the International Committee in Support of the Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,

“Welcome the efforts made by international partners of the DRC to encourage progress and support reforms,

“Endorse the “critical path” elaborated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in paragraph 54 of his Third Special Report (S/2004/650) on the United Nations Organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Secretary-General’s recommendation to establish three joint Commissions to ensure the implementation of the essential aspects of the Transition,

“Urge the Government of Transition and National Unity to faithfully apply the provisions of the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement and to implement the critical path, focusing on the essential elements necessary for the restoration of peace and security and the holding of elections within the constitutionally defined timeline of June 2005 in the DRC:

(a) the restoration of security throughout the territory of the DRC through military integration and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, strengthening of law and order, and progress on disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration of foreign combatants on DRC territory;

(b) the effective territorial reintegration of the country through the restoration of a unified administration and border control mechanisms;

(c) the adoption of the legislative framework necessary for the electoral process and the organization of a referendum approving the post-transition constitution;

(d) the holding of credible national elections,

“Call for the establishment of a mechanism for sustained dialogue and follow up between the CIAT, on the one hand, and the transitional institutions, on the other, in particular the Espace Présidentiel established under article 80 of the DRC’s Transitional Constitution,

“Urge the international community to provide the assistance required by the Transitional Government to undertake the tasks outlined in the critical path, in particular in the areas of military integration and police training,

“Call on the international community to harmonize its political and economic strategies by carefully calibrating its political goals and financial and material assistance as a means of encouraging the DRC’s authorities to move the transitional process forward,

“Call on neighbouring States to look actively for ways in which they can make a positive contribution to the transition in the DRC.

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