S/PV.3748 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Zaire, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/1997/197, which contains the text of a letter dated 5 March 1997 from the Secretary- General addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting a copy of the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Zaire. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council. “The Security Council expresses its grave concern at the deteriorating situation in the Great Lakes region, in particular in eastern Zaire. It underlines the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response by the international community in support of the efforts of the joint United Nations/Organization of African Unity Special Representative for the Great Lakes region to prevent any further escalation of the crisis there. “The Security Council reiterates, in that respect, its full support for the five-point peace plan for “The Security Council welcomes the declaration of the Government of Zaire of 5 March 1997 (S/1997/197, annex) regarding its acceptance of the United Nations peace plan endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1097 (1997). “The Security Council calls upon the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo/Zaire to declare publicly their acceptance of resolution 1097 (1997) in all its provisions, in particular an immediate cessation of hostilities, and calls on all parties to implement its provisions without delay. “The Security Council is concerned about the effect which the continued fighting is having on the refugees and inhabitants of the region and calls upon all parties to allow access by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and humanitarian agencies to refugees and displaced persons and to guarantee the safety of refugees and displaced persons as well as United Nations and humanitarian aid workers. It also takes note with concern of allegations of violations of international humanitarian law in the conflict zone and welcomes the sending of a United Nations fact finding mission to the area. “The Security Council reiterates its full support for the joint United Nations/OAU Special Representative for the Great Lakes region and urges all Governments in the region and all the parties concerned to cooperate with him fully. It also urges the parties to the conflict to begin, under his auspices, a dialogue in order to achieve a lasting political settlement. “The Security Council welcomes all efforts, including those of the Organizations and States of the region, aimed at resolving the crisis, including the initiative of President Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya to convene another regional meeting in Nairobi on 19 March 1997 and the initiative of the OAU to organize a summit of the members of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for Conflict “The Security Council reaffirms the importance of holding an international conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region under the auspices of the United Nations and the OAU. “The Security Council expresses its gratitude to the Secretary-General for keeping it informed of “The Security Council will remain actively seized of the matter.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1997/11. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda.