Goma, 18 May 2009 - The 15 ambassadors of the UN Security Council delegation arrived in North Kivu province today, the first stage of their two day visit to the DRC. With a heavily charged schedule, the delegation came to evaluate the situation on the ground in the province, their first since last year. After their series of meetings with UN and Congolese officials, the delegation said that they were impressed with the progress achieved in the province.
Upon arrival in Goma at 8am from Kigali, the Security Council delegation was welcomed by Alan Doss, Special Representative to the UN Secretary General in the DRC, Deputy Special Representatives Ms. Leila Zerrougi and Mr. Ross Mountain as well as MONUC Force Commander General Babacar Gaye.
The agenda for the delegation’s visit to the province included: meetings with MONUC officials, civil and military authorities, the humanitarian community, and actors in the fight against sexual violence. They also visited the hospital “Heal Africa” and the village of Kiwanaja in Rutshuru territory.
At the end of this marathon, Ambassador Jean-Marie Ripert (France), who is head of the delegation for this African tour, gave the delegation's impressions to the press in Goma. He said that the Council was impressed with the progress achieved in the past year.
He underlined that the Council was here to bring their support for the work of the Congolese authorities, including reconciliation with their neighbours, to put an end to armed rebellion, so that their could be unity among all Congolese in this part of the country.
He said that the Council came to bring their support to MONUC, and that at the end of their visit to Kiwanja, the delegation was impressed with the work being done on the ground, both by MONUC military and civilian personnel.
After successive meetings with many different MONUC and Congolese officials, the delegation observed that the number one priority was to give confidence to the population, through confidence in the authorities, armed forces, police and MONUC.
The delegation was aware that the violence persisted, and this was a concern. But the joint efforts of MONUC and the Congolese authorities, both civil and military, was giving hope that the violence would gradually recede.
How would this be achieved?
“It is necessary to work harder together to put an end to the abuses and criminal activities of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), who continue to persecute the population, in order to return to a normal life.”