S/2003/514
Letter dated 29 April 2003 from the
Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations addressed to the
President of the Security Council
On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit herewith a statement issued on 15 April 2003 by the Ministerial Meeting of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, which was held at Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (see annex).
At the meeting, Uganda was represented by the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Wapakhabulo, and Angola by Jean-Baptiste Mawete, Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ntumba Luaba, Minister of Human Rights, represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The meeting discussed the following issues:
- Assessment of the results accomplished by the Ituri Pacification Commission.
- Withdrawal of the Uganda People's, Defence Forces from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Assessment of the security mechanism on the western slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains.
I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.
(Signed) Semakula Kiwanuka
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations
Annex to the letter dated 29 April 2003 from the Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council
Final communiqué of the Ministerial Meeting of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
Bunia, 15 April 2003
1. According to the calendar already established by the Ituri Pacification Commission (IPC), representatives of the Governments of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as signatories of the Luanda Agreement dated 6 September 2002, with the participation of MONUC, represented by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Namanga Ngongi, met in Bunia on 15 April 2003. Uganda was represented by the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. James Wapakhabulo; the Democratic Republic of the Congo was represented by the Minister of Human Rights, H.E. Mr. Ntumba Luaba. Angola, who chaired the meeting, was represented by its Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, H.E. Mr. Jean-Baptiste Mawete.
2. The agenda of the meeting included the three following items: assessment of the results accomplished by IPC; withdrawal of the UPDF from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and the assessment of the security mechanism regarding the western slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Assessment of IPC results
3. The delegations received an IPC analytical briefing presented by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and chairman of IPC, who congratulated the Congolese and Ugandan Governments for their active participation in the work of IPC, confirmed that IPC had made the Ituri population assume its responsibility, underlined the temporary character of the interim mechanism of pacification of Ituri resulting from IPC, and called on the international community to provide full support for the recently launched process of pacification. The delegations expressed their total satisfaction with the results of the IPC. The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo expressed the wish that the interim mechanism would be implemented without delay with a view to avoiding any uncertainty within the administration. MONUC confirmed that the Interim Special Assembly had just been set up.
4. The delegations seized the opportunity to condemn the massacres and other violations of human rights that took place in the area prior to and during the convening of IPC.
UPDF withdrawal
5. Regarding the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo wished that Uganda would communicate its detailed plan of withdrawal, in accordance with the Luanda Agreement, and insisted upon the deployment in Ituri of an international force as well as the National Congolese Police.
6. The Ugandan delegation provided detailed explanations regarding the Ugandan presence in Bunia and Ituri, and confirmed that the exact technical information (exact strength and location of troops) would be officially conveyed to MONUC. The Ugandan delegation recalled further the presence of elements of Ugandan dissidents deployed in Ituri, and recalled also the permanent dangers of confrontation among ethnic armed groups. Uganda reaffirmed its willingness to put into effect the withdrawal of all UPDF troops by 24 April 2003. The Ugandan delegation indicated however its wish for the deployment of an international force in Ituri to replace the UPDF, in order to avoid any security vacuum.
7. MONUC indicated that an exact assessment of the security context of Ituri is in the course of being made, that necessary recommendations would be submitted to United Nations Headquarters and that a quick and appropriate response would be given. In addition, MONUC would ensure logistical conditions in Bunia and in the region with the aim of possible deployment of an international force.
Security mechanism regarding the western slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains
8. The Congolese and Ugandan delegations reiterated the need and urgency for the implementation of the security mechanism regarding the western slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains. It was agreed to leave it to experts from both parties to re-examine practical modalities at a later date.
Bunia
Democratic Republic of the Congo
15 April 2003
Signed
For the Government of the Republic of
Uganda
James Wapakhabulo
For the Government of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Ntumba Luaba
For the Government of Angola
Jean-Baptiste Mawete
For MONUC
Namanga Ngongi