Security Council

5562^nd Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL PAYS TRIBUTE TO ‘SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY’ DEMONSTRATED

IN HISTORIC DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ELECTIONS

The Security Council today paid tribute to the sense of civic responsibility once again demonstrated by the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who participated peacefully and in large numbers in historic provincial elections and the second round of the presidential election on 29 October 2006.

In a statement read out by its President for November, Jorge Voto-Bernales (Peru), the Council, looking forward to the installation of a democratically elected Government, stressed that the new authorities and all Congolese political actors will be responsible for ensuring sustainable peace and stability and for continuing to promote national reconciliation and establishing democratic institutions and the rule of law.

Taking note of the fact that voting generally took place in an orderly and safe atmosphere, the Council deplored the isolated incidents that had occurred, notably in Bumba and Bikoro in Equateur province and in Fataki in Ituri district.

Attaching great importance to the signing of a declaration of post-electoral intent by representatives of the two candidates in the second round of the presidential election on 29 October in Kinshasa, the Council emphasized that political difference must be settled by peaceful means only and it called on the parties to comply with all confidence-building measures to which they had agreed after the incidents of 20 to 22 August 2006.

Recalling that the Independent Electoral Commission was responsible for announcing the election results, the Council called on all political actors and the Congolese people to await and receive the results of the historic elections calmly and responsibly, refraining from any incitement to hatred or recourse to violence and respecting democratic institutions and the rule of law.

The meeting began at 12:37 p.m. and adjourned at 12:43 p.m.

The full text of the presidential statement, to be issued as document S/PRST/2006/44, reads as follows:

“The Security Council pays tribute to the sense of civic responsibility once again demonstrated by the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who participated peacefully and in large numbers in the provincial elections and the second round of the presidential election held on 29 October 2006.

“The Security Council expresses its gratitude to the Independent Electoral Commission and the Congolese National Police, which played a central role in, respectively, organizing the elections and providing security for them.  It underlines the role of the High Media Authority, the International Committee of Eminent Persons and the International Committee in Support of the Transition (CIAT) in promoting a smooth conduct of the electoral process and a calm political climate and reaffirms its support for them.  It also welcomes the support provided for the holding of the elections by the United Nations Mission (MONUC), the EUFOR operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the country’s other international and regional partners, in particular South Africa and the European Union.

“The Security Council takes note of the fact that voting generally took place in an orderly and safe atmosphere.  It deplores the isolated incidents that occurred, notably in Bumba and Bikoro in Equateur province and in Fataki in Ituri district.

“The Security Council recalls that the Independent Electoral Commission is responsible for announcing the election results.  It calls on all political actors and the Congolese people to await and receive these results calmly and responsibly, refraining from any incitement to hatred or recourse to violence and respecting democratic institutions and the rule of law.

“The Security Council attaches great importance to the signing of a declaration of post-electoral intent by the representatives of the two candidates in the second round of the presidential election, on 29 October in Kinshasa.  It emphasizes that political differences must be settled by peaceful means only and calls on the parties to comply with all the confidence-building measures to which they agreed after the incidents of 20 to 22 August 2006.

“The Security Council recalls that these elections are historic for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and looks forward to the installation of a democratically elected Government.  It stresses that the new authorities and all Congolese political actors will be responsible for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the restoration of peace and stability and for continuing to promote national reconciliation and the establishment of democratic institutions and the rule of law in the country.”

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For information media • not an official record