Security Council

5783^rd Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL COMMENDS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA FOR JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ

ON COMMON APPROACH TOWARDS SETTLEMENT OF PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS

Recalling that the continued presence of illegal armed groups was one of the root causes of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council this morning commended the Governments of that country and of Rwanda for their joint communiqué containing a common approach to end the threat posed to peace and stability in both countries and the Great Lakes Region, signed on 9 November in Nairobi.

In a statement read by Council President Marty M. Natalegawa (Indonesia), the Council noted that the communiqué was an important milestone towards the definitive settlement of the problem of illegal armed groups, in particular the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), ex-FAR/Interahamwe and the dissident militia of Laurent Nkunda, and reiterated its demand that those groups lay down their arms and engage voluntarily and without preconditions in their demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration.

The Council encouraged the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to implement fully their commitments contained in the communiqué and to continue to cooperate to solve their common security concerns.  It stressed its readiness to facilitate and support the implementation of those commitments, in particular through measures against additional individuals and entities, including FDLR and ex-FAR/Interahamwe, pursuant to resolutions 1596 (2005) and 1649 (2005).

The meeting began at 10:15 a.m. and ended at 10:20 a.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of the presidential statement, to be issued as S/PRST/2007/44, reads as follows:

“The Security Council commends the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda for their joint communiqué on a common approach to end the threat posed to peace and stability in both countries and the Great Lakes Region, signed in Nairobi on 9 November 2007, which is an important milestone towards the definitive settlement of the problem of illegal armed groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“The Security Council expresses its appreciation for the efforts undertaken in this respect by the Secretary-General through the special mission carried out by Assistant Secretary-General Haile Menkerios and looks forward to a continuation of this involvement, including further consultations with the Governments concerned and regional and international partners.

“The Security Council recalls that the continued presence of illegal armed groups, in particular the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), ex-FAR/Interahamwe and the dissident militia of Laurent Nkunda, is one of the root causes of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and constitutes a threat to regional stability.  The Council reiterates its demand that these groups lay down their arms and engage voluntarily and without preconditions in their demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration, as appropriate.

“The Security Council encourages the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda to implement fully their commitments in the Nairobi communiqué and to continue to cooperate to solve their common security concerns.

“The Security Council stresses its readiness to facilitate and support the implementation of these commitments, in particular through measures against additional individuals and entities, including the FDLR and ex-FAR/Interahamwe, as appropriate, pursuant to resolutions 1596 (2005) and 1649 (2005).

“The Security Council reiterates its full support to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) for its action on the ground, and encourages it to support, within its mandate and capabilities, the measures agreed by the Congolese and Rwandan Governments.”

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For information media • not an official record