S/PV.5340 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 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. Members of the Council have before them document S/2005/810, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Security Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. If I hear no objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1649 (2005). After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council. “The Security Council commends the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the successful holding of the referendum on the draft Constitution. The large number of voters demonstrated a genuine aspiration for peace and national reconciliation. “The Security Council pays tribute to the work of the Independent Electoral Commission, which was able, with an unprecedented and outstanding logistical support from MONUC (the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and with the assistance of the international community, to take up this challenge. “The Security Council recalls its support for the holding of elections in the coming months, which have to take place before the end of the transitional period on 30 June 2006. It urges the Government of National Unity and Transition to live up to the expectations of the Congolese people and to do its utmost to ensure that the next polls are held in accordance with the timetable of the Independent Electoral Commission.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2005/66. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.