Thursday, September 7, 2000
Security Council calls for "accelerated withdrawal" of foreign forces from DRC
7 September -- Expressing its deep concern at the continuation of hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Security Council today called for "the accelerated withdrawal" of Ugandan and Rwandan forces and of all other foreign contingents from the country.
Meeting at the level of heads of State and Government, the Council in a Presidential statement called on all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and fulfill their obligations under the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. It also noted the statements issued by Uganda and Rwanda on measures towards disengagement and withdrawal of their forces in the DRC.
The Council said it was "deeply concerned" over the dire consequences of the conflict for the humanitarian situation in the DRC, as well as at reports of human rights abuses and of illegal exploitation of that country's natural resources. The Council called on all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law, and to provide access for humanitarian relief personnel.
The Council also called on Congolese parties and, in particular, on the Government, "to engage fully" in the national dialogue process called for under the Lusaka Agreement, and to support the facilitation of the peace process.
Saying it was ready to assist in the peace process, the Council said it deplored the fact that the continuation of hostilities and the lack of cooperation by the parties had prevented the full deployment of the United Nations mission in the Congo (MONUC). It urged Kinshasa to honour its responsibilities as the host government of the mission.
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