PSC/MIN/Comm.2(CLXIII)
Page 2
9.
Commends the mobilisation of the international community to support the peace
process in the DRC and to contribute towards the alleviation of the current humanitarian
crisis, notably in the areas affected by fighting. Council notes that the increasing influx of
refugees and the stress it has on the neighbouring countries and calls on the
international community to assist in resettlement efforts of the refugees in the host
countries ;
10.
Further condemns the numerous atrocities committed against the civilian
population, in particular women and children, and deplores the persistence of impunity
in eastern DRC. In this respect, Council calls on the international community to take the
necessary measures to bring to justice those suspected of committing human rights
violations and abuses against the civilian population and all those involved in the illegal
exploitation of the natural resources of the Congo;
11.
Welcomes the appointment of Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Envoy of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Great Lakes Region, and that of Mr.
Benjamin Mkapa, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, as co-Facilitator
of the Follow-up Mechanism established by the Nairobi Summit of 7 November 2008,
and expresses appreciation for the remarkable work accomplished on the ground
towards finding a lasting solution to the crisis;
12.
Expresses appreciation for the launching, under the auspices of the Special
Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Follow up Mechanism, of
discussions between the Government and the CNDP, in Nairobi, on 8 December 2008,
and urges the parties to conduct the dialogue in a frank and constructive manner in
order to restore peace, security and stability in North Kivu, in scrupulous respect for the
integrity and sovereignty of the country, as well as the Goma process;
13.
Welcomes the joint operation undertaken by the DRC, Uganda and Sudan in the
Garamba Park against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), whose presence in the North
Eastern DRC is a serious threat to peace, security and stability throughout the region.
Council considers that this initiative should inspire other actions against the negative
forces in the region;
14.
Further expresses appreciation for the significant progress made in the
normalisation of relations between the DRC and Rwanda and, in this regard,
commends the Agreement reached at Goma between the Foreign Ministers of the two
countries, on 5 December 2008, and calls for the full implementation of the Nairobi
communiqué of 9 November 2007, including the plan for the disarmament of the exFAR/Interahamwé and the neutralization of the threat that they constitute for the two
countries, the intensification of dialogue between the border authorities of the two
countries and the resumption of the activities of the Economic Community of the
Countries of the Great Lakes (CEPGL);
15.
Underlines the urgent necessity to consolidate and deepen the progress made in
the implementation of the Nairobi and the Goma processes, and urges again the parties
to these processes, the countries of the Region and the entire international community
to continue to support them in order to restore lasting peace, security and stability in
DRC, as well as to accelerate the integration and development process of the countries
of the Region;