Secretary-General welcomes announcement of Congolese election results

 

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the Supreme Court of Justice, on 27 November, of the formal results of the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  He congratulates President Joseph Kabila on his election and salutes the Congolese people, whose determination enabled the first democratic elections to be held in the country in more than 40 years.  The Secretary-General also expresses appreciation to the international community for the significant electoral and other support it provided for this process, and calls on donors to generously assist the newly elected authorities.

The Secretary-General calls on all opposition leaders and their supporters to peacefully accept the final results.  Neither the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo nor the international community, will tolerate the actions of those who may try to undermine the process.

The Secretary-General emphasizes the key role that a political opposition can and must play in any democracy, and encourages the people and parties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to pursue an inclusive political process in addressing the many reconstruction and security challenges facing the country.

The Secretary-General notes that the electoral process has not yet been completed, and calls on the new Government to take all necessary action to ensure that the Congolese people can elect their local representatives in as short a time as possible.

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For information media • not an official record