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03 December 2004

United States "Profoundly Concerned" About Eastern Congo

Boucher says U.S. opposed to unilateral military actions there

The United States is "profoundly concerned" about the situation in eastern Congo, specifically the reports of Rwandan units operating there, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher announced December 3.

In a written statement released to reporters, Boucher said, "While we have no confirmation of large-scale Rwandan troop movements into Congo, we wish to state that we are unequivocally opposed to unilateral military actions contrary to the numerous agreements signed by the concerned parties and [U.N.] Security Council resolutions passed over the last five years."

Following is the text of Boucher's statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
December 3, 2004

Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Conflict in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo

The United States is profoundly concerned about the situation in eastern Congo, specifically the reports of Rwandan units operating there. While we have no confirmation of large-scale Rwandan troop movements into Congo, we wish to state that we are unequivocally opposed to unilateral military actions contrary to the numerous agreements signed by the concerned parties and Security Council resolutions passed over the last five years. Much progress has been made over the past two years in installing a transitional government in Kinshasa and removing foreign forces from Congo. Now is the time to build on these successes, not to risk reversing them.

We share Rwanda's concern about the threat posed to Rwanda's security, and that of the Congo and Uganda, by armed groups in eastern Congo. For several months the United States has facilitated regular meetings at the ministerial level between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda to resolve their differences. That process will continue in coming days with consultations in Kigali and Kinshasa. We have also strongly supported the efforts of the United Nations to create a Joint Verification Mechanism to monitor the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. We urge both countries to apply the principles of the agreements they have signed and use tools created therein, particularly the Joint Verification Mechanism and other diplomatic means, to resolve the current crisis.

African Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Yamamoto will be in the region soon to advance the Tripartite Agreement signed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. He will urge the parties to resolve their differences peacefully.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)