S/PV.8125 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2017/993, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Egypt, Ethiopia and Senegal. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2389 (2017). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

Egypt is proud of resolution 2389 (2017), adopted today by a unanimous vote. It attests to the special interest we attach to the situation in the Great Lakes region and to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region. That agreement represents a framework of 11 countries of the region, which are at the vanguard of every effort to confront the challenges and threats present in the Great Lakes region, with the support of international and regional partners, in particular the four guarantors: the United Nations, the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the Southern African Development Community. Five years have passed the signing of the framework agreement, which remains a key instrument for achieving sustainable and lasting peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region. All partners must therefore step up their efforts to implement their international, regional and local obligations, as set forth in the declarations on the framework agreement issued by the African Union on 7 November and by the Regional Oversight Mechanism for Peace, Security and Cooperation Agreement at its meeting held on 19 October in Brazzaville. Egypt, in cooperation with the two other African members of the Security Council, Ethiopia and Senegal, led a consultation process that included the main parties to the framework agreement and the guarantor institutions in order to ensure national and regional ownership of this initiative. The process was comprehensive, inclusive and transparent. We sought solutions that would be in line with the concerns of the members of the Council and preserve our constructive spirit of work. These efforts concluded in the unanimous adoption of resolution 2389 (2017) today. The resolution sheds light on the various challenges in the region, including those related to the activities of armed groups, which represent a dangerous threat to civilians, and to their role in the illegal exploitation of natural resources, preventing the peoples of the region from enjoying the benefits of those resources and development. The resolution stresses the need for further cooperation among the countries of the region to eliminate armed groups in the context of their obligations under the framework agreement. The resolution welcomes the obligations and commitments announced by the countries of the region at the Brazzaville summit, including the earliest possible repatriation of ex-combatants . The resolution also sheds light on the humanitarian crisis, including the increase in the number of refugees and internally displaced persons, which represents a burden on host countries. It calls on donors to step up their efforts to eliminate the funding gap in the region. It also welcomes all regional initiatives that support political processes and dialogue in the region in a comprehensive and inclusive manner. It calls on the countries of the region to honour their obligations under international law and to pursue further efforts to end impunity and to strengthen the status of women, allowing them to participate in political life and peacebuilding efforts. There is a need to reach sustainable solutions to the challenges in the region. We must therefore adopt a regional perspective that addresses the root causes of instability and lays the foundation for sustainable and lasting peace and security. The resolution adopted today stresses that fact and highlights the potential role of the Peacebuilding Commission, in cooperation with regional partners, including the African Union and subregional organizations. The resolution also stresses the importance of the framework agreement, which represents the development approach adopted by the United Nations in support of the agreement in a manner that would contribute to addressing the root causes of conflict and to strengthening economic and development cooperation among the countries of the region. The resolution calls on all donors to step up their efforts in support of the framework agreement. In conclusion, the resolution stresses the need for further and deepened cooperation between the United Nations, guarantor institutions and the signatories of the framework agreement. It calls on the Secretary- General to take advantage of the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the framework agreement, which we will mark in a few weeks, to launch a high-level dialogue to take stock of progress achieved and to highlight any obstacles and shortcomings, with the aim of achieving a common vision based on genuine cooperation and partnership with the countries of the region. Egypt looks forward to the results and outcomes of this vision and the recommendations of the Secretary-General.