YouSaid · the spoken record

She Okitundu

lines on the record: 310
first: 1999-03-19
most recent: 2018-03-07
sittings or episodes: 13
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“But in the area controlled by the Government - while it is true that there are some sources of concern, which we have duly noted, pursuant to the report of the Secretary-General - one cannot say that the human rights situation in the area controlled by the Government is catastrophic. Major steps have been taken with regard, inter alia, to closing detention sites that are not controlled by the judiciary, and we are continuing with consistent efforts in this area. There is, indeed, a problem regarding the death penalty. We still have the death penalty in the area controlled by the Government; that is true. But Joseph Kabila, our head of State, upon his assumption of that highest office last January, set up a strict moratorium - which is still in force today - with regard to the application of the death penalty.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“On human rights issues, I should like to recall - as is very clear from the report of the Secretary- General - that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has taken resolute action to improve the human rights situation in our country. It is important to recall - and various speakers stressed this point - the difference between the situation in the area controlled by the Government and the situation in the occupied territories. The Council knows full well that what is happening in the occupied territories is extremely serious. Massive violations of human rights are taking place.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“First, on the question of demilitarization, I should like to thank all of members of the Council who insisted on the imperative need to demilitarize the city of Kisangani, in keeping with Security Council resolution 1304 (2000) and its other relevant resolutions. We believe that demilitarization is an extremely important issue and that it has to be implemented. To do so, as I said earlier, I think that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must urgently give some sort of deadline for the RCD to demilitarize Kisangani. If it does not do so, those Security Council resolutions will remain a dead letter.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“Mr. She Okitundu (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (spoke in French): Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor once again. I should like also to thank the Secretary-General, who found the time to participate in today's discussions. Let me also thank all Council members for their contributions to the discussion on the report of the Secretary-General, and I also thank the representatives of the European Union, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe for their contributions. I should like to make a few comments on four points: the demilitarization of Kisangani; the problem of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a follow-up to the statement made by the representative of Bangladesh; the national dialogue; and the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation or resettlement (DDRRR) process.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“Finally, in the search for a lasting peace for the entire Great Lakes region, my Government is going to continue to commit itself to the Arusha process for Burundi, and we renew our encouragement and total support for the facilitator, Nelson Mandela. I thank you, Sir, and all members of the Council for their unflagging attention displayed in the quest for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thank you for your attention. I remain at your disposal for any questions or concerns you wish to raise.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“Before I conclude, I must reiterate the firm commitment of my Government to following through unreservedly with the national reconciliation process begun on 15 October 2001 in Addis Ababa and with its commitment to cooperating for a better conclusion to the process of disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and repatriation or resettlement (DDRRR). My Government recommends that the Security Council agree to the request of the Secretary-General to rapidly deploy phase III of MONUC. My Government urges the Council to demand the total demilitarization of Kisangani, as desired by the inhabitants of that long-suffering city.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“The conference will also promote the creation of an integrated network for education, transportation and tourism, given the interdependence of the economic structure of the countries of the Great Lakes region. The conference will also be able to take a decision on the resumption of activities of a regional regulating and stabilizing organ, as was in its time the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), and even plan programmes for regional development in the framework of the management of the period following the war of aggression.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“We must search for it and find it through frank and sincere dialogue, within a bilateral framework, naturally, and, even better, within the framework of that international conference on peace, security, democracy and development in the Great Lakes region. The conference is urgently needed, not only to enable the Democratic Republic of the Congo to recover its lost stability and basically rebuild a State on healthy and democratic foundations, while being mindful of the most fundamental rights of its citizens. The conference would also promote human rights, good governance, national reconciliation, democracy and the economic recovery of the entire Great Lakes region.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“As the Secretary-General underlined in paragraph 56 of his report, planning, in close collaboration with the Minister of Social Affairs and Family, for a global strategy for dealing with child soldiers and street children is well-advanced for Kinshasa and other provincial cities. With respect to the link between poverty, development and the current armed conflict, it is evident that the conference on peace, security, democracy and development in the Great Lakes under the aegis of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity is becoming a necessity, in fact, an inevitable necessity. The Democratic Republic of the Congo believes that a fair and lasting solution is within our reach.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“The United Nations should draw on the experience of the current leaders of UNAIDS, some of whom have been intimately involved over the last 15 years in national programmes to combat this pandemic. These leaders understand the particular situation of the Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and they are in a good position to provide assistance in combating endemic diseases and pandemics, such as malaria or the HIV/AIDS virus. UNICEF is also very much present in helping to protect children. With MONUC, UNICEF has been involved in the demobilization and reintegration of vulnerable groups, including child soldiers.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“The efforts of the World Food Programme (WFP), particularly in northern Katanga, are highly commendable. The WFP is one of the United Nations agencies that would definitely benefit from the proximity of a United Nations logistical base in Kindu. Turning to medical services, I wish to convey my deepest gratitude to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and to the international community for the vaccination campaigns, particularly against poliomyelitis. Furthermore, as the Secretary-General's report stresses, MONUC and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) are now finalizing a prevention programme based on an information and education campaign.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“We really need to set up a system to protect the existing humanitarian corridors and to create other corridors, too, particularly in making sure that there is free circulation and that the roads, rivers and railroads are protected from Kinshasa to Kindu, from Kisangani to Kindu, from Bunia to Kindu, from Bukavu to Kindu and from Lubumbashi to Kindu. More than Katako-Kombe in the province of Kasai Oriental, Kindu, the former Port-Empain in Maniema province, serves, because of its infrastructure, as a genuine centre of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and an export port for Congolese products. A deployment of MONUC in that city would promote and strengthen the economic functioning of Kindu in the best interests of the people of Maniema and Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“These people, in coordination with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the specialized agencies, could work out policies and activities aimed at accompanying the efforts already made by the Government in order to protect these rights throughout the territory of the Republic. The humanitarian situation is highly precarious for the Congolese, who suffer from the scourge of war, and for the millions of refugees who have fled situations of breaches of the peace in their countries. Humanitarian corridors have been identified by MONUC and by the Security Council mission, which honoured us with a visit last May.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“He has been instrumental in raising awareness among the Congolese regarding questions relating to the defense of human rights. I wish him every success in his new post. Nevertheless, despite great progress human rights problems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are still acute, particularly in the eastern provinces of the Republic, which are under occupation. In order to tackle the defense of these rights, the Council should authorize MONUC to considerably increase the number of human rights specialists.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“My Government urges the group of experts that was set up to study the matter to continue its investigations and to complete its work within the deadline set, in order to enable the Council to take all necessary steps to put an end to all illegal activities of natural resources exploitation, which fuels this war of aggression. The Council has repeatedly expressed its concern at this phenomenon and has stressed the importance it attaches to the conclusions that will appear in the final report to be submitted shortly to the Council. To this end my Government assures the Council of its full cooperation with the group of experts. With regard to human rights, my Government regrets the resignation of Mr. Roberto Garreton from his post as Special Rapporteur for human rights for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I pay tribute to Mr. Garreton.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“Concerning the humanitarian situation and the economic recovery in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, apart from points that are directly related to the polemical aspects of the settlement of the war of aggression in our country, the Secretary-General's report covers several other aspects that are highly important for our country. As concerns the looting of natural resources and other forms of wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is in violation of our national sovereignty, this phenomenon is going on at a frenetic pace.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“For that reason, it has authorized the international community, through MONUC, to have total freedom of movement throughout the free territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to allow visits to the various military barracks to convince themselves of our resolve to settle this question. In fact, it is planned that a MONUC team visit the Kamina base today, as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General recalled a little while ago, to identify Rwandese nationals located there. It is also my Government's intention to give that team every possible assistance required for the visit.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“My Government has thus started to disarm and canton the 3,000 individuals from armed groups of Rwandese origin in Kamina, in keeping with the provisions of the Lusaka Agreement, Chapters 9.1 and 9.2, with Security Council resolution 1355 (2001) and with the Kampala and Harare plans and sub-plans on the disengagement and the redeployment of armed forces. By proceeding with this operation, my Government has once again demonstrated our resolve pursuant to the provisions that I mentioned before. It is up to the Rwandese Government to reciprocate concretely by actually withdrawing its troops from my country. These gestures could restore the climate of trust that our war-torn populations sincerely hope for. My Government is prepared to be totally transparent on this question.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“However, concerning the optimal implementation of phase III, my Government continues to stress the need for an increase in the number of military personnel of MONUC committed to this job beyond the limit established by Security Council resolution 1291 (2000). Similarly, the international community must encourage Uganda to complete the repatriation of its forces, and it must demand that Rwanda withdraw its troops in keeping with Security Council resolution 1304 (2000). For its part, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is unilaterally trying to find a solution to the DDRRR programme of Rwandan citizens, whose presence in the country continues to be used by the Rwandan Government as a fallacious pretext - even an alibi - to justify its occupation of Congolese territory by its regular troops.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“With regard to one of the parties in particular, the theatrical alleged withdrawal of some of its military forces is not at all comparable with the significant reinforcement of that party's troops in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's territory. Any withdrawal movement and any deployment must be observed. That is why my Government can only support the recommendation of the Secretary-General contained in paragraph 98 of his report, in which he asks, the Security Council to authorize MONUC to start phase III of its deployment, in keeping with the new concept of operation that he has defined.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“How can one implement the resolutions of the dialogue in the context of occupation? The dialogue would be pointless if other aspects of the Lusaka Agreement, particularly the withdrawal of foreign forces, are not implemented. Indeed, we note here that the Government and its allies have made a lot of tangible efforts to speed up the implementation of the Lusaka Agreement, in particular concerning the withdrawal of all of the Namibian forces and a total halt to any troop movements. On the eve of the work now under way in the Security Council, withdrawal movements have been occurring, accompanied by much international media attention, and we need to make sure that this demonstration is not just being used as a propaganda tool to delude the international community about the real intentions of those involved.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“I assure the Council that my Government is strongly committed to implementing two chapters enshrined in the Lusaka Agreement - that is to say, the political chapter for holding the inter-Congolese dialogue without excluding anyone - and here the Addis Ababa meeting will have been a very important stage in this process - and the military chapter, with the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR) programme. I will now speak about phase III on the orderly withdrawal of all foreign forces, as well as the DDRRR programme. The holding of the national dialogue gives rise to a lot of hope on the part of the Congolese people, who aspire to peace. But there can be no peace unless Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi withdraw their forces from our national territory.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“We are particularly happy that the facilitator has finally recognized that the Government's position is defensible and in keeping with the spirit of Gaborone, and that in its latest statement the Council has called on all participants for support. My Government is very grateful to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) for having taken the necessary steps to provide support to the facilitator. We welcome with satisfaction the announcement made by the OAU that it will open a liaison office in Kinshasa, as well as a liaison mechanism with the Office of the facilitator.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“It should also be recalled that one of the objectives of the Lusaka Agreement to be attained by the inter-Congolese dialogue is to restore a new political order as a result of free, democratic, transparent elections. It is up to us, Congolese, to resolve all the major issues concerning the life of the State and the governance of our nation, in particular: the form of the State; its political regime; the nature of our economy; and national reconstruction. The Council will easily understand that from the point of view of my Government it is imperative to carefully prepare for the dialogue so that its conclusions can be accepted and be applicable to everyone.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“However, with the same format at Addis Ababa as at Gaborone, the national dialogue lost its inclusive character, which the President of the Republic and the entire Congolese people favoured. Legitimate claims by certain representatives of civil society who felt that they were unjustly excluded must be properly addressed. The political opposition, as well as civil society, as defined in chapter 5 of the Lusaka Agreement, is not represented in all its diversity. Other specific problems, particularly involving the Mayi- Mayi resistance and the RCD-ML, have not been resolved either. The facilitation seems to be running into material problems, which must be resolved.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“My delegation has just come from Addis Ababa, where on 15 October the inter-Congolese dialogue was solemnly opened. All the participants expressed their desire to succeed in dialogue and overcome their differences. They agreed by consensus to resume the peace talks in the upcoming weeks in South Africa with all delegates present. I wish here to refer to the comments my Government made on 6 October 2001 regarding the proper holding of the inter-Congolese dialogue, as follows. In keeping with the spirit and the letter of the Lusaka Agreement, as repeatedly stated by His Excellency Major-General Joseph Kabila, President of the Republic, it has been agreed that a totally inclusive dialogue should be organized in order to bring about national reconciliation.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“It also explains, as is clearly described by the Secretary-General in his ninth report, the refusal of the Rwandan army to authorize the MONUC sector commander to investigate the fighting of 29 September 2001 in Kindu. The Democratic Republic of the Congo makes the Government of Rwanda and the RCD responsible for all the massive violations of human rights, and for the violence against MONUC personnel, in the part under its control. My Government wishes to make the Council aware, before it is too late, of the humanitarian tragedy that could result if nothing is done to stop the fourth confrontation of Rwandan and Ugandan troops on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I come now to the inter-Congolese dialogue.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“It is marked, as the ninth report of the Secretary-General emphasizes, by an increase in massive human rights violations by the RCD and the Rwandan patriotic army, the intensification of fighting and the strengthening and concentration of Rwandan and Ugandan troops in Kanyabayongo, where they are clearly preparing to confront one another as they did before at Kisangani. Members will recall that when the Harare sub- plans were being implemented, Rwanda offered unilaterally to withdraw by 200 kilometres, instead of the 15 kilometres in the Kampala plan. With the reinforcement of its troops, we can finally understand Rwanda's secret plan, which was really to perpetuate its domination of the people of Kivu. This explains the resumption of hostilities in Kindu, Fizi and other parts of the region.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“In order to remove any pretext that Rwanda or the RCD may use, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reiterates solemnly before the Council its commitment not to occupy Kisangani and its environs once it has been truly demilitarized. It is up to the Security Council to take all the necessary steps to make this demilitarization effective. I turn to the disturbing situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation is indeed very disquieting and should be the focus of attention in the Security Council.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“At the risk of boring the Council, my delegation will keep repeating that it is essential that Kisangani and its population, who continue to suffer enormously from the pain of war and its aftermath, cease to be the symbol of the martyrdom of an entire nation. Failure to demilitarize the town risks strengthening the growing humiliation of the Congolese people. History gives ample evidence that such feelings bring a grave threat of extremist uprisings, as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom stressed. Once again, I appeal to the Council to take the steps referred to in paragraph 28 of resolution 1355 (2001) to bring these two recalcitrant parties, signatories of the Lusaka Agreement, to respect their obligations and stop defying with impunity the entire international community, through the Security Council.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“I am still convinced that all these questions and the other substantive problems are not insurmountable and that appropriate solutions can be found in cooperation with MONUC and the Joint Military Commission. With regard to the demilitarization of Kisangani, in the statement to the press on 11 October 2001 by its President, the Security Council called on the RCD- Goma to demilitarize Kisangani, as demanded by the relevant Security Council resolutions. My delegation, which appreciates the fact that the Security Council has recognized the dominant influence of Rwanda on the RCD-Goma, would have preferred that the Council demand with the same firmness the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the town.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“We agree with the Secretary-General about the implementation of phase II of MONUC deployment, but there were certain failings in carrying out the Kampala disengagement plan and some Harare sub-plans regarding the new defensive positions. The new defensive positions of the Congolese armed forces in Emate-Loa, Abunakambo, Losambo and Djefera are still being illegally occupied by the Mouvement pour la liberation du Congo (MLC), which, in violation of the Kampala plan and the Harare sub-plans, retains administrative and police powers. For its part, the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratic (RCD) continues to administer Pweto without any right to do so, despite MONUC's presence.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“At a time when the peace process is entering a crucial, decisive phase, we must together tackle the remaining problems that impede the urgently needed implementation of the Lusaka peace process, in the best interests of the people of the Great Lakes region. The problems or obstacles relate to: disengagement; demilitarization of Kisangani; the disquieting situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the inter-Congolese dialogue; phase III relating to the withdrawal of foreign troops and disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration programmes; and the humanitarian situation and the economic recovery of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Concerning the disengagement of forces on the ground, we welcome the effective cessation of hostilities along the line of confrontation.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, referring to a "moral duty" to provide international military and humanitarian assistance to any country in need, stressed that if the world continued to ignore the suffering of the African nations, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ravaged by war, that would incite anger and frustration that could threaten global stability. My delegation endorses those words. My Government has always affirmed the urgent need for serious, in-depth reflection leading to all necessary measures to restore confidence and bring about a return to normality in the Great Lakes region, in order finally to root out chaos and despair.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“Ngongi is a worthy successor to Ambassador Kamel Morjane, and I do not doubt for a moment that he will be up to the task of responding to the expectations for peace to which his illustrious predecessor happily gave rise. I say to him "Be assured, dear brother, of my Government's full, sincere cooperation as you carry out your difficult tasks. Allow me to express to you, Mr. Special Representative, our gratitude for your excellent introduction of the ninth report of the Secretary- General on MONUC's activities." In his speech at the beginning of this month at the annual conference of his party, Mr.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“I encourage him to continue his efforts in that direction, as well as to explore other approaches conducive to the speedy attainment of peace. The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Secretary-General, which represents a great honour for Africa, was well deserved; it was the crowning moment of an entire career dedicated to the tireless search for peace in the world. Finally, my delegation would like to thank the Secretary-General for having nominated as the head of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Mr. Amos Namanga Ngongi, a native of Cameroon, in Central Africa, who I am sure has a perfect knowledge of the region, as well as of the mentality of the people there. I am convinced that Mr.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was among the first to condemn those acts of terrorism, and we join with the United States of America and other States throughout the world in trying to combat that scourge in all of its forms. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to thank very sincerely the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, on his recent historic visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That visit was necessary in that it made it possible for the highest-level United Nations official to see for himself the tragedy in which the Congolese people are caught up. My delegation would also like to thank him for his personal investment in the quest for a lasting solution to that war of aggression, in particular by promoting summit meetings between the heads of State of the countries concerned.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“Mr. She Okitundu (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (spoke in French): I should like first of all to undertake the pleasant task of congratulating you, Mr. President, on your skill and knowledge in guiding the work of the Security Council for this month of October. My delegation would like to join in the unanimous tribute to the French delegation for its work in presiding over the Council last month and to congratulate it for the outstanding way in which it handled the tragic events that plunged the United States of America and the world into mourning as a result of the horrendous attacks on New York, Washington DC. and Pennsylvania, which caused incalculable human and material loss.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“And principally we call on the Council to implement all the recommendations of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including: order the demilitarization of the city of Kisangani, reparations for material damage, and compensation for the population in accordance with resolution 1304 (2000) of 16 June 2000; state that only the total and final withdrawal by the aggressors can guarantee an end to the looting of the wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; recognize the grave moral, material and physical damage suffered by the Congolese people as a result of this war and the concomitant mafia-like activities; order meaningful reparations for that damage in order to restore the rights of the Congolese people; and order that legal action be taken against the perpetrators of this looting and their accomplices.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“It also violates the principle of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which the Security Council has repeatedly reaffirmed in all its resolutions on the situation in my country. With a view to attaining the peace demanded by my people, and in the light of the gravity of the situation, my Government calls on the Security Council to call for protective measures comprising an embargo on looted products in transit through, inter alia, Kigali, Bujumbura and Kampala.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“My delegation assures the Council and the international community that His Excellency Major General Joseph Kabila, President of the Republic, is determined on behalf of the Congolese people to restore peace through a diplomatic solution to the conflict. On 2 February 2001, the Security Council heard His Excellency Major General Joseph Kabila, President of the Republic, speak at length about the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth in my country. That exploitation must end immediately: the consequences for present and future generations are already extremely grave. The illegal exploitation of the mining resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by aggressor States and their nationals violates the right of the Congolese people to self-determination.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“I wish most sincerely to thank Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, which have come to my country's assistance in the framework of the self-defence provisions of the statute of the Southern African Development Community and in conformity with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter. I must point out that, in the absence of the aggression of which the Democratic Republic of the Congo is victim, the allied troops of Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe would certainly not be on Congolese territory. My Government wishes also to pay hearty tribute to the entire Congolese people, which has tirelessly stated, loud and clear, its devotion to the Congolese nation and its keen wish to coexist within a united, strong country, in line with the founding accord of the republic and with the self-determination achieved on 30 June 1960.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“My Government considers that the Council should act swiftly on the basis of these relevant recommendations. With all due respect for Rwanda, the systematic looting of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has helped finance and support the war in my country. My delegation would recall that pillage is prohibited under article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. The aggressors bear the shame of claiming to teach the people of the Congo a lesson in democracy and good governance. But in fact, they are bands of looters. They will answer to history for this barbarism, which will go down in the annals of mankind, along with their attendant atrocities and massacres.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“My country endorses the recommendations by the Panel of Experts in paragraphs 236 to 242. These relate to reparations and compensation for the Congolese people and show that it is necessary to set up a framework for the reconstruction of the country. To that end, the conditions should be created to bolster the powers of the State and to enable it to provide improved safety and security for people throughout its national territory. In paragraph 239 of its report, the Panel of Experts recommends the establishment of an international mechanism that will investigate individuals named in that paragraph as being involved in economic criminal activities. That list should be expanded to include those named in paragraph 211 as being on the verge of becoming the godfathers of this illegal exploitation.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“As a result of this enormous undertaking, only the people of the Congo are losing. Continuation of this unjust and senseless war and the illegal exploitation of the natural resources and other forms of wealth have greatly increased the suffering of our people. We were outraged to hear that even yesterday Uganda was being praised by the Bretton Woods institutions when at the same time the report of the Panel of Experts, in paragraphs 187 to 190, shows how the systematic looting of Congolese resources has directly contributed to improving the balance of national accounts in that country and in Rwanda. The fact that our aggressors are on the list of countries benefiting from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative is seen by my people as rewarding them for their crimes.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“Entire national parks - Virunga, Garamba, Salonga, Kahuzi-Biega - that were classified by UNESCO as the heritage of mankind have been completely devastated. First they were victims of the flood of Rwandan refugees and people displaced by successive conflicts. Then the parks became the target of poaching established as a practice of war and of organized illicit trafficking. My delegation made a heartfelt appeal to the Security Council that it should call on the international community to react and help us protect unique species. Because of the savage slaughter with automatic weapons by the occupying forces, Congolese elephants, bonobos, gorillas in the eastern plains, mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, white rhinoceroses, okapis and Congolese peacocks are all being exterminated.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“The geographic zones of expansion of this Balkanization strategy extend from the north of the mining province of Katanga to the southern Sudan, passing through the forests of the province of Maniema, the Ruzizi valley in South Kivu, the province of North Kivu and Orientale province. These vast geographical areas contain enormous, coveted wealth, such as strategic minerals, gold, diamonds, oil, niobium, columbo-tantalite (coltan), timber, coffee, quinine and so forth. At the environmental level, the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in violation of its sovereignty, has had devastating and perhaps irreversible consequences for the management of the flora and fauna.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“Paragraphs 87 to 93 in the report of the Panel of Experts clearly indicate the names of individuals implicated in the looting. Let me offer a few arguments proving that what has happened in my country did not happen by chance, but was rather premeditated and carefully planned. On 31 August 1998, my Government submitted a memorandum on the armed aggression by the Rwandan/Ugandan coalition against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The memorandum, issued as an official document of this Council, showed how powerful alliances of interests made use of the move by aggressor countries to serve their goal of dismembering Central Africa for the purposes of economic domination and control of the sources of important raw materials.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“More recently in Ituri, Ugandan troops caused deadly clashes between the Hema and Lendu, two important ethnic groups in our Orientale province, who until then were living in peace. On the moral, material and physical levels, the damage that has been done is enormous. The Congolese people, who warmly welcomed the report of the Panel of Experts, are now entitled to call for appropriate reparations pursuant to article 91 of Additional Protocol 1 of the Geneva Conventions. It provides that a party to a conflict which violates the provisions of the Conventions and the Protocol shall, if the case demands, be liable to pay compensation. It shall be responsible for all acts committed by persons forming part of its armed forces.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“The Council should remember the suffering of the city of Kisangani, where three times the Rwandan and Ugandan troops clashed, bombing residential areas, cultural objects and places of worship despite their being protected by the provisions of article 53 of Additional Protocol 1 to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and thus causing loss of human life, especially among the vulnerable, mostly women and children. Following these hateful acts, the Council adopted resolution 1304 (2000) of 16 June 2000 and called for the immediate, unconditional withdrawal of Ugandan and Rwandese troops. We deplore the fact that today, about a year later, despite measures taken by the International Court of Justice in The Hague last July, the city is still occupied.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source