PSC/MIN/Comm.(XXI)
Page 1
COMMUNIQUE OF THE TWENTY-FIRST MEETING
OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its twentyfirst meeting, held at ministerial level, on 7 December 2004, to deliberate on the
situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the relations
between the DRC and Rwanda, adopted the following decision:
Council,
1.
Expresses its great concern at the continued presence of the exFAR/Interahamwe in the DRC, which constitutes a security problem for Rwanda,
as well as for the DRC and the Region as a whole, and negatively affects the
relations amongst the Countries of the Region;
2.
Stresses the need to seek a peaceful solution to the problem posed by the
ex-FAR/Interahamwe and other foreign armed groups in the DRC and urges
Rwanda to refrain from any unilateral action. Council further calls on the DRC
and Rwanda to exercise maximum restraint;
3.
Requests, in view of the gravity of the situation and its far-reaching
implications for the ongoing peace process in the DRC and regional peace and
stability, the Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with the current
Chairperson of the AU and the Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council, to
take appropriate steps to convene, as soon as possible, a Summit bringing
together the Presidents of Rwanda and the DRC, in the presence of the African
Union, the United Nations and other stakeholders, with a view to defusing the
current tension and to consider ways and means to effectively address the issue
of the disarmament and demobilization of the ex-FAR/Interahamwe;
Appeals to the UN to vigorously pursue its efforts to strengthen the United
Nations Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) to enable it effectively support
the disarmament and demobilization of the ex-FAR/Interahamwe. Council urges
Rwanda and the DRC to fully cooperate with the United Nations and the African
Union towards the speedy establishment and operationalization of the Joint
Verification Mechanism (JVM), the Terms of Reference of which were agreed
upon in New York on 22 September 2004. In this regard, Council requests the
Chairperson of the Commission to work closely with the Parties and the United
Nations for the enhancement of the Joint Verification Mechanism, including its
mode of operation and strength.
4.