Welcoming Great Lakes Region International Conference Outcome, Secretary-General

 

Calls on M23 to Abide by Kampala Accord, Lay down Arms, Withdraw from Goma

 

The following statement was issued on 25 November by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the joint communiqué of Presidents Kabila, Kagame and Museveni, and subsequent outcome of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Summit, held in Kampala on 24 November.

The Secretary-General calls on the M23 to immediately lay down their arms in accordance with the agreements reached in Kampala, and comply with the immediate withdrawal of their forces from Goma.

The Secretary-General encourages the parties to build on the dialogue among the leaders of the Great Lakes region to address the fundamental causes of conflict.

The Secretary-General reiterates his personal commitment to support these efforts.  He is also determined to ensure that the United Nations presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo be adjusted to respond to the evolving challenges in line with relevant Security Council resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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For information media • not an official record