Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at a UNSC Briefing on the DRС
Mr.President,
We thank Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee for her briefing. We welcome the participation of Permanent representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in the meeting.
Since the end of June, we have all been following with optimism the advancements achieved through international diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in the east of the DRC.
However, reality has once again demonstrated that such a large-scale, long-standing armed conflict involving numerous illegal armed groups and regional players has its own momentum, which cannot be changed in a flash.
We regret to note that despite the obviously positive results of the negotiations in Washington and Doha, the threats to Congolese civilians have not yet been addressed so far.
In contrast, the security situation in the eastern provinces of the DRC has clearly deteriorated. As is well known, hundreds of civilians have become victims of a number of violent attacks by M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in recent months.
We strongly condemn these unacceptable acts of violence. We express our condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives, and to the government of the DRC. We wish a speedy recovery to all those injured.
We are also deeply concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the latest outbreak of violence. This must be stopped; millions of Congolese are sick and tired of hardships and constant fear for their lives.
We reiterate that there is no military solution to the crisis. A lasting settlement can only be achieved through a political agreement with due regard to the fundamental interests of all parties involved.
We hope that the participants in the Doha negotiations will strictly uphold their commitments under the “Declaration of Principles” and continue working towards a comprehensive peace deal.
It is also important that Kigali and Kinshasa remain firmly committed to implementing the obligations they formally undertook on June 27.
It is clear that an essential condition for stabilizing the eastern DRC is the cessation of State engagement with illegal armed groups. This is explicitly stated in resolution 2773 adopted unanimously by the Council, whose key provisions, as the situation shows, remain pertinent. Let me remind you that these provisions are based on regional “recipes” developed within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi processes and are in line with the parameters agreed upon at the joint EAS-SADC platform.
We would like to emphasize the importance, especially in the current circumstances, of raising the profile of regional actors in the settlement process. In this regard, we welcome the merger of the mediation structures of the African Union, the EAS, and SADC into a single mechanism under the auspices of the pan-African organization. We hope that it will work productively in the interests of peace and security in the Great Lakes region.
Much in the eastern DRC hinges also on the Congolese government's action to strengthen the accountability and effectiveness of the national security sector, the army, and law enforcement forces, as well as their ability to establish state control throughout the country.
We are convinced that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) can and should contribute to this effort. First and foremost, this concerns the need to enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping in protecting civilians. This will restore the Mission’s presence in the conflict zone as an important deterrent that needs to be reckoned with. We believe that this requires a prompt and impartial assessment of the MONUSCO's ability to fulfill its mandate, including in the context of the events in North and South Kivu since January this year.
Only when implemented together will these measures yield tangible results in ending the hostilities, addressing the threat posed by illegal armed groups, and ensuring normal living conditions for millions of ordinary Congolese people.
Russia will continue to contribute to the settlement of the crisis in the east of the DRC as per the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Thank you.
