Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2003

Allow me,

Sir, to discharge the agreeable duty of congratulating

Mr. Julian Hunte on his unanimous election to the

Presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth

regular session. I would also like to commend your

predecessor, His Excellence Mr. Jan Kavan, who

fulfilled his mandate to the satisfaction of all.

I note the efforts and specific involvement of the

Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, in the peaceful

resolution of the complex crisis in the Great Lakes

region and Central Africa. The Congolese people

continue to be grateful to the United Nations system

for the assistance that it gave it through the United

Nation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the

Congo and the Interim Emergency Multinational Force

deployed in Bunia and especially for strengthening the

peacekeeping mandate of the United Nations

Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of

the Congo (MONUC).

The Congolese delegation associates itself with

the spirit of sympathy and solidarity elicited by the

terrorist attack committed in Iraq against the great

family of the United Nations. Indeed, the Congolese

people were also deeply moved to learn of the brutal

and tragic death of the ardent defender of freedom and

human rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, to whom I pay

tribute.

At a time when the entire world remembers the

tragic events of 11 September 2001 in this very city of

New York, the United Nations was still mourning the

loss of its staff and fell victim yet again to a terrorist

attack in Iraq. The Congolese people renew their

unequivocal condemnation of international terrorism.

Africa is not spared from the scourge of terrorism. It is

enough to recall the tragic events in Nairobi, Dar es

Salaam and Casablanca.

This session coincides with the final phase of the

process of the establishment of transitional institutions

in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is here that

I would like to express my gratitude to the international

community, because its efforts, support and assistance

in this peace process led to the signing and

implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement.

It is the hope of the people of the Congo and the

Transitional Government to see the United Nations

redouble its efforts and pursue its support for the

process of peace and reunification now underway. At a

time when this lengthy war is coming to an end, it

should be noted that the Ituri district is still a gaping

wound that the slightest careless mistake could

inflame. While the deployment of the Interim

Emergency Multinational Force in Bunia allowed for a

sharp reduction in acts of violence and contributed to

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stabilization of the security and humanitarian situation,

the situation in the provinces of North and South Kivu

remain of concern.

It is important that neighbouring countries respect

the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political

independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

so as to recreate a climate conducive to a return to the

normalization of relations in the region.

Aside from the numerous human lives affected by

this war, the plants and the animals have also endured

immeasurable damage. Our determination to restore

everything that was destroyed is equalled only by our

hope of turning our country into an oasis of peace for

all. We believe that a United Nations fund to support

this effort would be fair compensation.

All the present efforts of the Transition

Government for the reunification of the national

territory, the pacification of the country, the

reconstruction of infrastructure and the restoration of

State authority are working to achieve the ultimate

objective of transition, namely, the holding of free,

transparent and democratic elections. It is in that

context that my country voices the hope that the

international community will provide the necessary

assistance at all stages of the electoral process.

In the peace process now underway, an area

which is of critical importance and an imperative is

that of independent justice, whose equitable

administration would mark the end of impunity. On the

domestic level, the Transition Government is working

to conclude successfully the reform advocated here, for

equitable justice is the real proof of national

reconciliation.

On the international level we believe that the

major objective is the establishment, with the

assistance of the United Nations, of an international

criminal tribunal for the Democratic Republic of the

Congo to deal with crimes of genocide, crimes against

humanity, including rape used as a weapon of war, and

mass violations of human rights. Moreover, to ensure

the best possible coverage for protection of human

rights, as well as of humanitarian rights, the

Democratic Republic of the Congo has ratified several

international conventions, including the Rome Statute

establishing the International Criminal Court.

Given the important provision for the protection

of human rights contained in that Statute, the Congo,

on the basis of respect for fundamental principles that

govern international relations, intends to see that there

is strict respect for the implementation of that

instrument.

As one can see, a new era has dawned in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, an era of peace and

reconciliation, of national unity and the re-

establishment of State authority, an era of

reconstruction, economic recovery and development to

consolidate and put to use the gains of arduous political

negotiations.

Aware of challenges and looking toward the post-

conflict period, the Transition Government has placed

the well-being of the Congolese people at the centre of

its concerns. It intends to imprint on its programme the

requisite good governance, as well as macroeconomic

management that ensures the security of investments,

respects social rights and guarantees protection and

legal and judicial security for employment, business

and foreign investment.

We remain aware of the importance of sharing

those resources likely to contribute to economic

integration, and we intend to conduct a policy of

dialogue, openness and good-neighbourliness. The

priority given to regional integration is a sign of our

adherence to the initiative of the international

conference on peace, security, democracy and

development in the region of the Great Lakes and of

Central Africa. The Congolese people consider the

holding of this forum a historic opportunity that must

be seized so that it can lead to the application of

fundamental principles of international law.

As we are determined to maintain good

neighbourly relations and relations of mutual respect

with border countries, and thus refuse to serve as a

rear-guard base for subversive movements against the

countries surrounding us, we in turn will reject

interference or destabilization from neighbouring

countries.

For us there is a need to do everything possible in

order to build peace in the region and to effectively

affirm: a spirit of solidarity, of sharing and of peaceful

coexistence at the regional and global level; the fight

against poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic; control

of the movement and proliferation of small arms and

light weapons, which are claiming victims every day;

and the campaign against the proliferation of

antipersonnel mines.

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Throughout my statement I have condemned

terrorism in all forms. I also spoke of the consequences

of the bloody, unjust and unacceptable war which has

just devastated the fundamental infrastructure of the

Democratic Republic of the Congo. I have also referred

to the significant progress made in the peace process

underway while emphasizing the importance of the

support of the international community for the success

of that process, which will culminate in the

organization of elections.

We are aware and convinced that it is within our

power to play a stabilizing role in Central and Southern

Africa upon which the stability and economic recovery

of the region depend.

I conclude by reaffirming the will of the people

of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cooperate

with the international community in building a better

world that is designed to build peace and greater

solidarity among peoples and nations.