EU Presidency Statement - The situation in the DRC

Madam President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia and the associated countries of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey align themselves with this statement.

Madam President,

I should like first of all to thank you for having convened this meeting on a peace process that my country, but also the entire European Union, is following with great attention, that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I also wish to thank in particular the Ministers of the signatories of the Lusaka Agreement for attending. I consider that their presence reflects the great significance we all attach to the peace process, just before such an important step in the deployment of the United Nations Mission is taken.

This peace process is laborious and complex. Developments recently in the field have been disappointing and the peace process has not reached a point of no return. This co-ordination meeting between the Security Council and the Lusaka Committee is therefore particularly relevant. It is important, at a time when the United Nations is preparing to enter into the third phase of MONUC deployment and to mobilize additional resources, that the parties to the conflict show their firm commitment to the peace process. Otherwise it seems to me that the efforts of all of us become meaningless. It is a long-term exercise, which calls on both short and medium-term actions, but its success will nevertheless depend mainly on the will of the parties to the peace process.

We consider that this goodwill must take tangible form in the immediate future at three levels: the question of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR); the withdrawal of foreign forces and the inter-Congolese dialogue.

Firstly, the European Union considers that all parties to the conflict, and in particular the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, should immediately discontinue all forms of support to armed groups. In this respect, we deplore the fact that the UN is still not in possession of the information that should be supplied by the parties as to the number, composition and location of armed forces on the ground. We urge the parties to supply this information, as they promised several months ago now.

DDR cannot take place by chance or on a piecemeal basis. Firstly, the MONUC must be given total freedom in its assistance to the process. I am thinking here in particular of the Kamina regroupment center. There also has to be a minimal understanding between the parties, in particular between Rwanda and the DRC. Then, I must remind the parties that disarmament, demobilization and reintegration must take place on a voluntary and peaceful basis. Any initiative which runs counter to these principles is quite simply unacceptable. The parties to the conflict must collaborate with the UN and refrain from any action, which might prejudice efforts in this matter. Finally, it is essential that the UN should introduce the appropriate mechanisms in order that this exercise is conducted in a coordinated and integrated manner. The last report of the Secretary General on MONUC goes in the right direction by foreseeing a consultative mechanism in Kinshasa and New York between MONUC, the World Bank and all involved UN agencies. It also proposes to give MONUC the coordinating role.

Secondly, disengagement constitutes the first significant step in the process of withdrawal of foreign forces. The first step must lead to the second step and to further progress. On the one hand, Kisangani must be demilitarized. We call on Rwanda to use all its influence with RCD-Goma to achieve this. On the other hand, progressive deployment must be accompanied by a gradual and reciprocal withdrawal of troops. We have noted with satisfaction the withdrawal of Namibian troops and a good proportion of the Ugandan troops. Allow me to recall that Namibia is the first signatory of the Lusaka Agreement to have withdrawn its forces in accordance with the provisions of that instrument. We sincerely hope that this example will be followed by the other States concerned. In this connection, we encourage Uganda to complete the process of withdrawal it has started and we urge the Rwandan government and the other governments concerned to expedite preparations for withdrawing their troops in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1304.

Finally, the inter-Congolese dialogue is another essential building block in the peace process. We do not wish to hold forth here about the poor result of the Addis Ababa meeting - which we deplore - but rather to urge the parties to the dialogue and the facilitator, Mr. Masire, to agree as quickly as possible to hold further meetings to revive the process in order to engage in substantive dialogue on the parameters for an inclusive and democratic transition, together with a realistic timetable. We remain convinced that, with goodwill and a spirit of compromise, the process can be put back on track. I wish to reaffirm, in this connection, the support of the European Union and its Member States.

Madam President,

The suffering of the Congolese population, the serious violations of human rights committed against it and its appalling humanitarian situation all require us to assume our responsibilities. We support the recommendation of the Secretary-General to the Council that the third phase of MONUC deployment be started in order to sustain the momentum of the peace process, despite the risks and costs incurred, in the hope that the parties to the conflict, both in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and within the region, will fully assume the moral and political responsibilities incumbent on them. In other words, the Union urges the signatory States and the other parties to the Lusaka Agreement to show the political will required for the continuation of the peace process. The European Union will give the process its support and undertakes to deploy all its energy and influence to that end, in close co-operation with the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity and all the parties concerned. At the end of the month, Mr. Louis Michel will go to the region in his capacity of president of the Union, accompanied by the High Representative of the EU, Mr. Javier Solana, and Commissioner for foreign relations, Mr. Chris Patten. This visit will reaffirm the EU's strong commitment to the peace process and its solidarity with the region's long-suffering people.

Thank you, Madam President.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Financing of UN Mission in the Congo (11/3/2002)