SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES CONGOLESE-PROPOSED PEACE, SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT TALKS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the timely initiative by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the people of North and South Kivu Provinces to hold a conference on peace, security and development in this troubled region.  The conference holds the potential of making important steps towards ending the suffering of the population and establishing a global plan for security, stability and progress in these Provinces.

The people of North and South Kivu deserve a resolution to the conflicts, which have caused so much suffering and massive displacement of the population, and which threaten peace and stability in the region.

He expresses the hope that this conference will unite the efforts of all parties to make reconciliation and reconstruction a reality.  He urges all concerned to seize this opportunity to initiate and sustain a dialogue aimed at peacefully addressing the many challenges facing the Kivus.  The Secretary-General calls upon the international partners of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support these efforts.

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For information media • not an official record