UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
Verbatim transcript of press conference: Special representative of the United Nations
Secretary General for the DRC, Mr. William Lacy Swing
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Good morning,
In view of the remarkable development of the past few days or weeks and the upcoming Democratic Republic of Congo Independence Day on 30th June, I deemed naturally it fit to briefly address this news conference, one of the few conferences I have attended. I would like to draw your attention to a few points.
We [MONUC] took note of the Parliament's decision to extend the Transition in accordance with article 196 of the Transition's constitution, in order to bring the electoral process to fruition by ensuring free, transparent and democratic elections. We also welcome the voter registration process launched on Monday 20 June.
From our modest and humble point of view, as foreigners living in this country, we believe that the DRCongo has made an important breakthrough with the launching, two days ago, of the voters' identification and registration operations in Kinshasa. This critical step has marked the beginning of the electoral process. In two days only, 11,409 voters were registered in the first six districts of Kinshasa, as a test in 93 of the 1143 sites in the whole city.
Today, we can reflect on the path that took us to lay solid foundations for the holding of free, transparent and democratic elections. We can now see the results: basic texts ' about 15 of them ' are already promulgated; laws on nationality, on the political parties, the decree on securing the elections and, on 18 June, last Saturday, the launching of a sensitisation and civic education program. The same day in the afternoon, political parties signed a code of good conduct devised with the assistance of international experts. The law on referendum was adopted. And MPs have already started framing the text on the electoral law.
For all the Congolese people who received voters' identification cards on Monday, the electoral process has become a reality. The process must continue! The electoral process has become irreversible!
Ahead of DR Congo's Independence Day, for the well-being of the Congolese people and the process underway, I urge everyone to refrain from acts likely to undermine the efforts and progress achieved so far.
In reference to the CIAT communiqué issued a few days ago, I appeal to all the Congolese people to turn out in large numbers to Independent Electoral Commission's registration centres to receive their voters' cards, as progressively each office opens. It is advisable that everyone refrains from acts and rhetoric which could jeopardize the electoral operations. I also call on security forces that are securing registration operations, in particular, and law enforcement in general, to demonstrate patriotism in carrying out their duties.
Everybody is already focused on the essential tasks to be accomplished and, if we want to have credible elections, as they say, free, transparent and democratic elections' the government, the parliament, the Independent Electoral Commission, and we, who came from foreign countries to back this process, we all have to do our part.
MONUC for its part will accompany the DRCongo Transition in areas critical to the electoral process. We used to have a small unit of eight electoral specialists which became a 135-strong division with specialists whose task is to assist the IEC in this big country. We work conjointly with other national and international partners who provide training to Congolese police officers. A police force trained in keeping order and upholding human rights is indispensable for any smooth peace process.
We have been trying alongside other partners to secure financial assistance estimated at $285 million for the electoral process, including money needed for the registration, the referendum and the elections themselves. Another package, estimated at nearly $100 million is necessary for logistic requirements in this huge country lacking basic roads infrastructures; $40 million more is needed for securing the electoral process. This brings the total amount to more than $400 million. We have been trying together with our partners to coordinate these contributions.
Investigations of human rights abuses: we have a human rights section that regularly conducts investigations. We have been doing everything possible to assist the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) in disarming and demobilising militia in Ituri and to get the Interhamwe and ex-FAR as well as foreign armed groups in both Kivus return to their home country, Rwanda.
[In Ituri], we have certain achieved some successes with the FARDC. We have demobilized more than 15,000 [combatants]. There remain probably 1,000 who continue to cause much damage and threat to the population. They have killed 12 MONUC soldiers since January.
We are doing the same thing in the Kivus, within the limits of our resources, trying to assist the transitional government, the authorities and he FARDC in exerting political, military and judicial pressure for these people to return to their country and leave the [local] population in peace and security.
All these actions are essential in order to facilitate the restoration of the rule of law and create a favorable environment for elections, and for the future.
Maybe I will surprise you: Congo's elections will be the largest polls that the United Nations, with all its experience, has ever witnessed. In what sense' Firstly, in terms of the country's sheer size. Consider this: Ituri is 7,000 square kilometres larger than Sierra Leone; Cambodia is as large as Bas-Congo. Liberia is little smaller that North-Kivu. [The Democratic Republic of the Congo] is a vast country that requires a lot of financial and organizational efforts.
Secondly, this is the largest electorate. South Africa has an electorate of 20 million. The total number of electors in DRCongo is estimated to be between 26 and 28 million. I have indicated to you the cost of the operations. 9,000 voter registration centres and 40,000 polling stations are needed. All of this with the participation of all the country's citizens, using all the buildings available, the churches, schools, government buildings, etc.
Mr Mandela said at some point after his liberation and before the first democratic elections held in South Africa that he had the impression of being in physical contact with history. Have we here come to a point like that one' One may ask that question, because we are approaching a historical moment - a moment which, for me, is marked by several things.
Firstly, the Congolese people are today closer to elections than they have ever been since 1960. Secondly, the Congolese people and the transition process have more friends and support today than they have ever had before. During the first five years of MONUC, the Security Council has spent three billion dollars to finance peace and security. There are 35 Security Council resolutions; at least 26 declarations of the Security Council president, 22 reports of the Secretary-General on the situation in DRCongo; five international peace agreements such as the Lusaka Agreement; and, each year for five years, [there is] an important Security Council mission to the DRC. MONUC is the largest mission in the history of United Nations peacekeeping history, consuming between 20 to 25% of the global budget for peacekeeping.
MONUC has people from 110 nationalities, about 50 of which compose MONUC forces, while 19 are in the civil police.
In closing, maybe I should go back to the essential questions. Why are the elections in DRCongo so important' Why must the transition succeed' For several reasons. But, for lack of time, let me give you just three or four.
Firstly, this is one of the most serious tragedies in the world with 3.5 million lives lost during the two wars, 2.4 million displaced persons in the country's 11 provinces, 388,000 refugees in the 9 neighbouring countries, 17 million malnourished persons, about three million people living with HIV/AIDS, 2,000 victims of anti-personal mines, and that's not all!
Secondly, this, in my humble view, is the only sub-region of Africa that has always lacked a centre of political stability. This now needs to be created with these elections for a stable sub-region [where the countries] would live in peace and harmony with each other.
Thirdly, you know your country's economic potential better than I do. The Congo River represents 10 to 13% of the world's hydroelectric capacity. DRCongo possesses more that 50% of all the remaining forests in Africa, considerable mineral resources and above all the Congolese people who represent the country's greatest resource.
And finally, if you take into account all the crises in Africa today -- no need to name them since there are many of them -- and you are asked to choose one that must be resolved, obviously the Congolese crisis is the one. This is because DRCongo touches all the different parts of Africa: Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa and Southern Africa. We who are here as foreigners, we are very proud, very privileged to be among you and with you at this moment in order to make our modest contribution to this process that you have initiated.
From our modest and humble point of view, as foreigners living in this country, we believe that the DRCongo has made an important breakthrough with the launching, two days ago, of the voters' identification and registration operations in Kinshasa. This critical step has marked the beginning of the electoral process. In two days only, 11,409 voters were registered in the first six districts of Kinshasa, as a test in 93 of the 1143 sites in the whole city.
Today, we can reflect on the path that took us to lay solid foundations for the holding of free, transparent and democratic elections. We can now see the results: basic texts ' about 15 of them ' are already promulgated; laws on nationality, on the political parties, the decree on securing the elections and, on 18 June, last Saturday, the launching of a sensitisation and civic education program. The same day in the afternoon, political parties signed a code of good conduct devised with the assistance of international experts. The law on referendum was adopted. And MPs have already started framing the text on the electoral law.
For all the Congolese people who received voters' identification cards on Monday, the electoral process has become a reality. The process must continue! The electoral process has become irreversible!
Ahead of DR Congo's Independence Day, for the well-being of the Congolese people and the process underway, I urge everyone to refrain from acts likely to undermine the efforts and progress achieved so far.
In reference to the CIAT communiqué issued a few days ago, I appeal to all the Congolese people to turn out in large numbers to Independent Electoral Commission's registration centres to receive their voters' cards, as progressively each office opens. It is advisable that everyone refrains from acts and rhetoric which could jeopardize the electoral operations. I also call on security forces that are securing registration operations, in particular, and law enforcement in general, to demonstrate patriotism in carrying out their duties.
Everybody is already focused on the essential tasks to be accomplished and, if we want to have credible elections, as they say, free, transparent and democratic elections' the government, the parliament, the Independent Electoral Commission, and we, who came from foreign countries to back this process, we all have to do our part.
MONUC for its part will accompany the DRCongo Transition in areas critical to the electoral process. We used to have a small unit of eight electoral specialists which became a 135-strong division with specialists whose task is to assist the IEC in this big country. We work conjointly with other national and international partners who provide training to Congolese police officers. A police force trained in keeping order and upholding human rights is indispensable for any smooth peace process.
We have been trying alongside other partners to secure financial assistance estimated at $285 million for the electoral process, including money needed for the registration, the referendum and the elections themselves. Another package, estimated at nearly $100 million is necessary for logistic requirements in this huge country lacking basic roads infrastructures; $40 million more is needed for securing the electoral process. This brings the total amount to more than $400 million. We have been trying together with our partners to coordinate these contributions.
Investigations of human rights abuses: we have a human rights section that regularly conducts investigations. We have been doing everything possible to assist the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) in disarming and demobilising militia in Ituri and to get the Interhamwe and ex-FAR as well as foreign armed groups in both Kivus return to their home country, Rwanda.
[In Ituri], we have certain achieved some successes with the FARDC. We have demobilized more than 15,000 [combatants]. There remain probably 1,000 who continue to cause much damage and threat to the population. They have killed 12 MONUC soldiers since January.
We are doing the same thing in the Kivus, within the limits of our resources, trying to assist the transitional government, the authorities and he FARDC in exerting political, military and judicial pressure for these people to return to their country and leave the [local] population in peace and security.
All these actions are essential in order to facilitate the restoration of the rule of law and create a favorable environment for elections, and for the future.
Maybe I will surprise you: Congo's elections will be the largest polls that the United Nations, with all its experience, has ever witnessed. In what sense' Firstly, in terms of the country's sheer size. Consider this: Ituri is 7,000 square kilometres larger than Sierra Leone; Cambodia is as large as Bas-Congo. Liberia is little smaller that North-Kivu. [The Democratic Republic of the Congo] is a vast country that requires a lot of financial and organizational efforts.
Secondly, this is the largest electorate. South Africa has an electorate of 20 million. The total number of electors in DRCongo is estimated to be between 26 and 28 million. I have indicated to you the cost of the operations. 9,000 voter registration centres and 40,000 polling stations are needed. All of this with the participation of all the country's citizens, using all the buildings available, the churches, schools, government buildings, etc.
Mr Mandela said at some point after his liberation and before the first democratic elections held in South Africa that he had the impression of being in physical contact with history. Have we here come to a point like that one' One may ask that question, because we are approaching a historical moment - a moment which, for me, is marked by several things.
Firstly, the Congolese people are today closer to elections than they have ever been since 1960. Secondly, the Congolese people and the transition process have more friends and support today than they have ever had before. During the first five years of MONUC, the Security Council has spent three billion dollars to finance peace and security. There are 35 Security Council resolutions; at least 26 declarations of the Security Council president, 22 reports of the Secretary-General on the situation in DRCongo; five international peace agreements such as the Lusaka Agreement; and, each year for five years, [there is] an important Security Council mission to the DRC. MONUC is the largest mission in the history of United Nations peacekeeping history, consuming between 20 to 25% of the global budget for peacekeeping.
MONUC has people from 110 nationalities, about 50 of which compose MONUC forces, while 19 are in the civil police.
In closing, maybe I should go back to the essential questions. Why are the elections in DRCongo so important' Why must the transition succeed' For several reasons. But, for lack of time, let me give you just three or four.
Firstly, this is one of the most serious tragedies in the world with 3.5 million lives lost during the two wars, 2.4 million displaced persons in the country's 11 provinces, 388,000 refugees in the 9 neighbouring countries, 17 million malnourished persons, about three million people living with HIV/AIDS, 2,000 victims of anti-personal mines, and that's not all!
Secondly, this, in my humble view, is the only sub-region of Africa that has always lacked a centre of political stability. This now needs to be created with these elections for a stable sub-region [where the countries] would live in peace and harmony with each other.
Thirdly, you know your country's economic potential better than I do. The Congo River represents 10 to 13% of the world's hydroelectric capacity. DRCongo possesses more that 50% of all the remaining forests in Africa, considerable mineral resources and above all the Congolese people who represent the country's greatest resource.
And finally, if you take into account all the crises in Africa today -- no need to name them since there are many of them -- and you are asked to choose one that must be resolved, obviously the Congolese crisis is the one. This is because DRCongo touches all the different parts of Africa: Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa and Southern Africa. We who are here as foreigners, we are very proud, very privileged to be among you and with you at this moment in order to make our modest contribution to this process that you have initiated.
