UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
Jean-Marie Guéhenno appeals to the International Community to help DRC transitional Government
Jean-Marie Guéhenno appeals to the International Community to help DRC transitional Government reinforce its capacity
The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, respectively held talks with the representatives of the Agencies of the United Nations? system in DRC and members of the International Committee to support the Transition (ICST) Wednesday at MONUC headquarters.
Expressing his views at the end of his tour to Eastern DRC, Kampala and Kigali, Mr. Guéhenno pointed out that remarkable progress were made in several areas and noted the need of technical expertise for the transitional government.
The head of the UN peacekeeping operations singled out the lack of Government's presence in several parts of the country, difficult functioning of the transitional government and a devastated economy. He therefore called on the international community to help the Congolese ensure coherent government activities, to build structures that would facilitate a better inter-ministerial planning and to put in place a real programme of DRC's reconstruction.
Mr. Guéhenno further asked the representatives of the UN agencies and International organisations based in the DRC to help reinforce DRC's capacities in consolidating its income, putting in place legal mechanisms for the control of expenses and incomes. ''A transparent line of expenses and incomes must be established'', he declared.
The International Community should itself adopt an integrated approach to support DRC's reconstruction efforts. Mr. Guéhenno underscored, based on the above, the need to ensure the coordination and unity in the International Community's activities, more particularly in information sharing.
With UN agencies and ICST members, Mr. Guéhenno reviewed the situation in Ituri and declared that it was urgent to launch the Disarmament and Reintegration process of militiamen in that community ''before any deterioration''. He explained that armed groups are destabilised thanks to MONUC effective action. But they still exist in a structured group. '' If we wait too much, there will be a risk of facing banditry which we will have trouble controlling'', he noted before underscoring the International Community's responsibility to put in place reintegration programs in a bid to consolidate the success in Ituri.
The UN head of Peacekeeping operations' interlocutors were concerned about the issues relating to regional relations and disarmament of the Ex-Far and Interahamwe armed groups. The Voluntary Disarmament process having been fully explored, he said discussions were ongoing to see whether it was possible to increase MONUC military capacity and means. He however explained that it would not be ''a right approach for MONUC to be in the front line, leaving the Congolese with no responsibility in this dossier''. He therefore urged the Congolese to ''carry out the disarmament of Interahamwe and FDLR militiamen''. Mr. Guéhenno however said that military strategy of the disarmament of the foreign armed groups only constitutes an aspect of the solution. '' It is obvious that the resolution of such an issue should fit in with the global strategy where the military aspect goes along a clear political commitment'', Mr. Guéhenno indicated, calling on the sub-regional countries to enhance their bilateral relations.
Back to Kinshasa after visiting the Eastern DRC, Kigali and Kampala, Mr. Guéhenno has held talks with the Vice-president for economic and financial matters, Jean-Pierre Bemba. He met with President Joseph Kabila on 21 May in Kinshasa and Azarias Ruberwa, Vice president for Political, Defence and Security affairs and Arthur Z'Ahidi Ngoma, Vice president for Social and cultural affairs.
The head of the UN peacekeeping operations singled out the lack of Government's presence in several parts of the country, difficult functioning of the transitional government and a devastated economy. He therefore called on the international community to help the Congolese ensure coherent government activities, to build structures that would facilitate a better inter-ministerial planning and to put in place a real programme of DRC's reconstruction.
Mr. Guéhenno further asked the representatives of the UN agencies and International organisations based in the DRC to help reinforce DRC's capacities in consolidating its income, putting in place legal mechanisms for the control of expenses and incomes. ''A transparent line of expenses and incomes must be established'', he declared.
The International Community should itself adopt an integrated approach to support DRC's reconstruction efforts. Mr. Guéhenno underscored, based on the above, the need to ensure the coordination and unity in the International Community's activities, more particularly in information sharing.
With UN agencies and ICST members, Mr. Guéhenno reviewed the situation in Ituri and declared that it was urgent to launch the Disarmament and Reintegration process of militiamen in that community ''before any deterioration''. He explained that armed groups are destabilised thanks to MONUC effective action. But they still exist in a structured group. '' If we wait too much, there will be a risk of facing banditry which we will have trouble controlling'', he noted before underscoring the International Community's responsibility to put in place reintegration programs in a bid to consolidate the success in Ituri.
The UN head of Peacekeeping operations' interlocutors were concerned about the issues relating to regional relations and disarmament of the Ex-Far and Interahamwe armed groups. The Voluntary Disarmament process having been fully explored, he said discussions were ongoing to see whether it was possible to increase MONUC military capacity and means. He however explained that it would not be ''a right approach for MONUC to be in the front line, leaving the Congolese with no responsibility in this dossier''. He therefore urged the Congolese to ''carry out the disarmament of Interahamwe and FDLR militiamen''. Mr. Guéhenno however said that military strategy of the disarmament of the foreign armed groups only constitutes an aspect of the solution. '' It is obvious that the resolution of such an issue should fit in with the global strategy where the military aspect goes along a clear political commitment'', Mr. Guéhenno indicated, calling on the sub-regional countries to enhance their bilateral relations.
Back to Kinshasa after visiting the Eastern DRC, Kigali and Kampala, Mr. Guéhenno has held talks with the Vice-president for economic and financial matters, Jean-Pierre Bemba. He met with President Joseph Kabila on 21 May in Kinshasa and Azarias Ruberwa, Vice president for Political, Defence and Security affairs and Arthur Z'Ahidi Ngoma, Vice president for Social and cultural affairs.
