PRESS STATEMENT ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Following is today’s press statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Security Council President Emyr Jones Parry (United Kingdom):
Members of the Security Council:
-- Heard a presentation from the Secretariat on the completion of the mandate of the Interim Emergency Multinational Force, deployed in Bunia in accordance with resolution 1484, and on the transfer of responsibility to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), on 1 September 2003;
-- Welcomed the action conducted by the European Union in the deployment of this Force, which helped to avoid a humanitarian tragedy and was instrumental in stabilizing the situation in Bunia;
-- Once again expressed their concern regarding the continuing hostilities in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular, in Ituri and in the Kivus;
-- Reaffirmed their support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and to MONUC, calling upon all Congolese and foreign parties to facilitate the fulfilment of their mandate;
-- Warned all parties against supplying arms, and not to engage in further violence;
-- Noted that MONUC has a Chapter VII mandate on the basis of which it has operated and continues to operate.
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