UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
Jean-Marie Guéhenno reminds Congolese of their responsibilities for a successful Transitional proces
The United Nations Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, reminded the Congolese people of their responsibilities with regards to the huge tasks ahead to achieve a successful Transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The statement was made during a reception organised in Kinshasa on 21 May 2004, in honour of government members and the diplomatic corps.
« I believe we would be obliged to turn to you, and as well as to all the Congolese - having a major role in this process, for it is not the responsibility of the International Community to proceed with the national reconciliation on behalf of the Congolese; neither is it their responsibility to make the national reconciliation between the DRC and Rwanda; it is rather the responsibility of the Congolese and the Rwandans», he declared. « The International Community only plays a supportive role to the central one, which is to be played by the Congolese themselves», he further said. Mr. Guéhenno declared himself impressed by some important decisions made by Congolese authorities, among others, the signing of the Ituri Commitment Act and the nominations of Governors. «Those are major steps in the right direction», he underscored.
He urged the Congolese people to remain on the side of the United Nations and International Community in the difficult task of taking up the challenge of helping « the Congolese people, at last, to enjoy much-awaited peace of which they hardly catch a glimpse now ».
The UN Chief of Peacekeeping Operations applauded the support of the International Community to the DRC peace process materialised by contributing troops to MONUC and providing training, material, financial and logistical support. « However, for a durable peace in the DRC, the Government should be backed in order to provide the services expected by the population and this support should involve an effort for Substantive Development Aid, and I know that many countries are ready to make such an effort», he added.
Earlier, the head of MONUC, Mr. William Swing, underscored the importance of the UN Head of Peacekeeping Operations? visits to the DRC, this being the fifth of such visits since he assumed duties in October 2000. For the Special Representative, this visit is propitious since it comes two months before the next report of the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council on the situation in the DRC, and three months before the expiration of the MONUC mandate on 30 July 2004. This visit also comes « in the middle of the historical transition in the DRC, that is, a year after the Transitional Government was put in place and a year before the elections scheduled for June 2005, under article 196 of the Transitional Constitution», he declared.
He urged the Congolese people to remain on the side of the United Nations and International Community in the difficult task of taking up the challenge of helping « the Congolese people, at last, to enjoy much-awaited peace of which they hardly catch a glimpse now ».
The UN Chief of Peacekeeping Operations applauded the support of the International Community to the DRC peace process materialised by contributing troops to MONUC and providing training, material, financial and logistical support. « However, for a durable peace in the DRC, the Government should be backed in order to provide the services expected by the population and this support should involve an effort for Substantive Development Aid, and I know that many countries are ready to make such an effort», he added.
Earlier, the head of MONUC, Mr. William Swing, underscored the importance of the UN Head of Peacekeeping Operations? visits to the DRC, this being the fifth of such visits since he assumed duties in October 2000. For the Special Representative, this visit is propitious since it comes two months before the next report of the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council on the situation in the DRC, and three months before the expiration of the MONUC mandate on 30 July 2004. This visit also comes « in the middle of the historical transition in the DRC, that is, a year after the Transitional Government was put in place and a year before the elections scheduled for June 2005, under article 196 of the Transitional Constitution», he declared.
