SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGED BY COMMITMENT TO END HOSTILITIES

IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

 

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

The Secretary-General congratulates the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the organizers and participants in the Conference for Peace, Security and Development in North and South Kivu on the successful conclusion of the Conference.  He is very encouraged by the commitment of the armed groups of North and South Kivu to end all hostilities, as outlined in the “Actes d’engagement”,signed by these groups and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 23 January.  The Secretary-General considers the “Actes d’engagement”an important step towards restoring lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region, and a complement to the Joint Nairobi Communiqué of 9 November 2007.

He calls on all parties to act quickly and effectively to implement agreements reached within the framework of the “Actes d’engagement”and on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to quickly act on the recommendations of the Conference.  He reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to support the Congolese parties in ending the suffering of the population in the Kivus.  The Secretary-General also calls on the international community, and particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s neighbours in the Great Lakes region, to fully support the implementation of these commitments.

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For information media • not an official record