Congo-Kinshasa: MONUC is Better Prepared Than On 30 July, 2006 - W. Swing

October 26, 2006
Posted to the web October 26, 2006
In an interview for the United Nations radio in New York on Wednesday 25 July 2006, the Special Representative of the Secretary General, William Swing, explained the position of MONUC with regard to the second round of the presidential election.
Logistics, financial and security, all is nearly ready for the second round scheduled for 29 October declared the Chief of MONUC in an interview for the United Nations radio in New York.
William Swing emphasized on the fact that we are better prepared than during the first round with regard to the deployment of MONUC forces, the relationship with the Congolese army and the contacts with the two opposing parties.

He also acknowledged that the Congolese are more worried than during the first round because of the incidents that occurred between 20 and 22 August, 2006, after the first round of the presidential election. However he reassured the population concerning the security situation.
On the same frame, the Special Representative of the Secretary General recalled that the objective of MONUC is always to protect the civilians and, for that reason, the biggest number of peacekeeping elements of MONUC is based in the Kivus and in Ituri.

With reference to the presence of Rwandan Hutus on Congolese territory and of troops faithful to the rebel General Laurent Nkunda, William Swing confirmed that they are not a threat to the electoral process and that it is the responsibility of the Congolese army to take care of arresting General Nkunda.

Swing has as well mentioned the exemplary cooperation between MONUC and EUFOR who are in a permanent contact.
He also insisted on the fact that the outcome of the electoral process is a clear message of the support of the international community to the Congolese people and a message of hope for the future, because peace in the DRC can enormously contribute to the stability and the development of the whole region.

Finally the Chief of MONUC affirmed that the international community won't abandon the Congolese people after the elections and that it will remain engaged to help the new government in several fields, notably in reforming the security sector and concerning humanitarian issues.

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