Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUnifeed
UN / DR CONGO
STORY: UN / DR CONGO
SOURCE: UNTV
TRT: 2.30
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ FRENCH/ NATS
DATELINE: 18 MAY 2011, NEW YORK CITY/ FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior UN building
18 MAY 2011, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
“The Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for 28 November, followed by provincial and local elections, can help to further consolidate peace and stability. These elections must be timely, transparent, credible, peaceful and secure, offering all Congolese a full opportunity to participate freely without fear of harassment and violence. We must do our utmost to ensure that violence does not break out before, during, or after the elections. We have invested much – and there is much to lose.”
4. Med shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Raymond Tshibanda, Minister for International and Regional Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo:
“We still expect a great deal from the United Nations organization, which undeniably has the susceptible capacity in order to help to further strengthen the Congolese public institutions. We only ask that we be able as responsible adults to shoulder the prerogatives that are part of our regained sovereignty.”
6. Med shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Pierre Sellal, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France:
“We are aware that the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains very precarious. Four challenges are especially pressing here: neutralize the activities of armed groups in the East; set up effective security forces; improve the mining sector and the utilization of natural resources; protect civilians, particularly against sexual violence, and strengthen the fight against impunity.”
8. Med shot, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Pedro Serrano, Acting Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations:
“Success in the DRC will also depend on sustaining the improved regional context. The European Union has deployed considerable political and diplomatic efforts to contribute to address regional crises and to promote greater cooperation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its Eastern neighbours in reshaping regional dynamics and creating renewed opportunities for peace and economic growth.”
10. Med shot, delegates
11. Wide shot, Security Council
The Security Council today (18 May) called for urgent steps to strengthen institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and called on the country’s Government to ensure that general elections slated for late this year are inclusive, transparent and peaceful.
Addressing the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that the forthcoming elections must be “timely, transparent, credible, peaceful and secure.”
He added that the “utmost” must be done to ensure that violence does not break out “before, during, or after the elections”, as much has been invested in the process, “and there is much to lose.”
Ban said that the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) will continue to provide logistical and technical support to the presidential and legislative polls scheduled for 28 November, and provincial and local polls following thereafter, for which the mission will require additional resources.
In his address to the Council, DRC’s Minister for International and Regional Cooperation Raymond Tshibanda said the improvement of the security situation in his country over the past two years is noteworthy.
He acknowledged that his country still expects “a great deal” from the United Nations organization, in order to help to “further strengthen the Congolese public institutions.”
He said that The DRC only asks that they be able “as responsible adults to shoulder the prerogatives” that are part of their regained sovereignty.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, Pierre Sellal, who presided the Security Council session, said that the situation in the DRC “remains very precarious” and enumerated the four most pressing challenges the country is facing, namely to “neutralize the activities of armed groups in the East; set up effective security forces; improve the mining sector and the utilization of natural resources; protect civilians, particularly against sexual violence, and strengthen the fight against impunity.”
The European Union’s (EU) representative to the United Nations, Pedro Serrano, told the Council that success in the DRC “will also depend on sustaining the improved regional context” and highlighted the EU’s contribution to addressing regional crises “and to promote greater cooperation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its Eastern neighbours in reshaping regional dynamics and creating renewed opportunities for peace and economic growth.”
In a presidential statement issued following its discussion on the DRC, the Council said judicial reform and support for domestic courts will ensure the rule of law and strengthen the fight against impunity.
The 15-member panel urged the MONUSCO and other international partners to support Congolese Government to restore basic services, including access to justice, roads, health care and education services, as wells as security throughout the country, and particularly in conflict-affected areas.
The Council noted that the overall peace and security situation in the DRC had improved, and acknowledged the results of actions taken by the Government to address the threat posed by illegal foreign and local armed groups, particularly the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR).
The Council reiterated its deep concern over persistent high levels of violence, especially sexual assaults, and other human rights abuses against civilians, including women and children.
The presidential statement underlined the importance of economic development in DRC to facilitate long-term stability. It stressed that special attention should be given to women’s empowerment and economic participation, job creation for youth, and reintegration of ex-combatants. It also underlined the need for further progress in ensuring that trade in mineral resources is founded on sound economic governance practices, and is transparent, fair and legal.
Download
There is no media available to download.
