S/PRST/1997/24
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
At the 3773rd meeting of the Security
Council, held on 30 April 1997 in connection with the Council's consideration
of the item
entitled "The situation in the Great Lakes region", the President
of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:
"The Security Council reaffirms
the statement of its President of 24 April 1997 (S/PRST/1997/22) and welcomes
the recent
agreement by the President of Zaire and the leader of the Alliance of Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of Congo/Zaire
(ADFL) on a time and venue for a meeting to discuss a peaceful and negotiated
settlement of the conflict in Zaire. It reiterates its full support for
the United Nations five-point peace plan, endorsed by its resolution 1097
(1997) of 18 February 1997, calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities,
and especially calls for both parties to reach a rapid agreement on peaceful
transitional arrangements leading to the holding of democratic and free
elections with the participation of all parties.
"The Security Council notes the
commitment by the leader of the ADFL to allow United Nations and other
humanitarian
agencies access to refugees in eastern Zaire in order to provide humanitarian
assistance and to implement the repatriation plan of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including the use of both airports
in Kisangani. It also notes his commitment to be flexible regarding the
duration of the repatriation operation, which should move ahead as quickly
as possible. It expresses concern at reports of obstruction of humanitarian
assistance efforts but notes that humanitarian access has improved recently.
It calls on the ADFL to abide by these commitments and to enable the UNHCR
repatriation plan to be implemented without conditions or delay.
"The Security Council also expresses
its deep concern regarding the continuing reports of massacres, other atrocities
and
violations of international humanitarian law in eastern Zaire. In this
context, it reiterates its call upon the ADFL and others
concerned in the region to cooperate fully with the recently established
United Nations investigative mission by ensuring
unimpeded access to all areas and sites under investigation, as well as
the security of the members of the mission. It attaches great importance
to the commitment of the leader of the ADFL to take appropriate action
against members of the
ADFL who violate the rules of international humanitarian law concerning
the treatment of refugees and civilians.
"The Security Council will remain seized of the matter."