DRC-- INSTRUCTION CABLE ON FDLR RESOLUTION

UNCLAS STATE 026159

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM CG XA ZF
SUBJECT: DRC-- INSTRUCTION CABLE ON FDLR RESOLUTION


1. Action Request: USUN is instructed to join consensus
and co-sponsor the resolution (text below) on the Forces
Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) scheduled for
adoption in the Security Council on March 13.

Begin text:

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular
resolutions 1649 (2005),1771 (2007),1794 (2007) and 1797
(2008),and the statements by its President concerning the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes
region,

Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and political independence of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda as well
as all States in the region,

Expressing its grave concern at the continued presence of
the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR),

ex-Rwandan Armed Forces (ex-FAR)/Interahamwe, and other
Rwandan armed groups referred to in the joint
communique (S/2007/679) of the Governments of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda signed in
Nairobi on 9 November 2007 ("the Nairobi Communique")
operating inthe eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo,
which continue to pose a serious threat to the peace and
security of the entire Great Lakes region,

Deploring the persistence of violations of human rights
and international humanitarian law carried out by the
FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and other Rwandan armed groups
operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo,
condemning in particular sexual violence perpetrated by
those groups, recalling its resolution 1325 (2000) on
women, peace and security and 1612 (2005) on children in
armed conflict and the conclusions endorsed by the
Security Council on Children And Armed Conflict in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (S/AC.51/2007/17),

Recognizing the commitment and sustained efforts of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda,
other countries of the region and their international
partners to solve their common security concerns and
achieve and sustain regional peace and stability, as
expressed in particular in the Nairobi communique and the
Conclusions of the high-level meeting of the Tripartite
Plus Joint Commission held in Addis Ababa on 4 and 5
December 2007,

Recalling the signing in Nairobi on 15 December 2006 of
the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the
Great Lakes Region, and underscoring the commitments not
to support rebel armed groups and to cooperate with a view
to disarming and dismantling existing rebel armed groups,

Welcoming the decision of the Government of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo to hold a meeting in Kisangani to
address the issue of the presence of FDLR,
ex-FAR/Interahamwe and other Rwandan armed groups in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo,

Supporting the ongoing efforts of the United Nations
Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (MONUC) to promote the voluntary disarmament,
demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and

reintegration (DDRRR) of these groups,

Expressing also its grave concern at the continued
presence of other armed groups and militias in the eastern
part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which
perpetuate a climate of insecurity in the whole region,
underscoring that the statements of commitment (Actes
d'engagement) signed in Goma on 23 January 2008, together
with the Nairobi communique, represent a major step
towards the restoration of lasting peace and stability in
the Great Lakes region, calling on the signatories to the
Goma statements of commitment to take immediate action in
support thereof, and expressing its intention to continue
to monitor closely their implementation,


1. Demands that all members of the FDLR,
ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and other Rwandan armed groups
operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
immediately lay down their arms and present themselves
without any further delay or preconditions to Congolese
authorities and MONUC for their disarmament,
demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and
reintegration;


2. Demands also that the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and
other Rwandan armed groups operating in the eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo immediately stop
recruiting and using children, release all children
associated with them, and put an end to gender-based
violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual
abuse, and all other forms of violence, and stresses the
need for those responsible to be brought to justice;


3. Recalls MONUC's mandate to facilitate the voluntary
demobilization and repatriation of disarmed foreign
combatants and their dependents, and to use all necessary
means, within the limits of its capacity and in the areas
where its units are deployed, to support operations led by
the integrated brigades of the Armed Forces of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) with a view to
disarming the recalcitrant armed groups in order to ensure
their participation in the disarmament, demobilization,
repatriation, resettlement and reintegration process;


4. Calls upon the Governments of the Democratic Republic
of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda to intensify their

cooperation to implement their commitments under the
Nairobi communique, in particular with a view to creating
the conditions conducive to the repatriation of
demobilized combatants;


5. Recalls that the targeted measures including a travel
ban and an asset freeze imposed by paragraphs 13 and 15 of
resolution 1596 (2005) were extended by resolutions 1649
(2005) and 1698 (2006) to apply in particular to political
and military leaders of armed groups operating in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo who impede the
disarmament and the voluntary repatriation or resettlement
of combatants belonging to those groups, and stresses that
those measures are applicable to leaders of the FDLR,
ex-FAR/Interahamwe and other Rwandan armed groups
designated in accordance with the provisions of those
resolutions;


6. Undertakes to consider, in its forthcoming review of
the measures described in paragraph 5 above, expanding
their applicability, as appropriate and taking into
account participation in or contribution to the DDRRR
process, to other members of the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe
or other Rwandan armed groups operating in the territory
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo or to persons
providing other forms of assistance to them;


7. Stresses that the arms embargo imposed by resolution
1493 (2003),as expanded by resolution 1596 (2005),
prohibits the provision of arms and any related materiel
or technical training and assistance to all foreign armed
groups and illegal Congolese militias in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, including the FDLR,
ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and other Rwandan armed groups;


8. Calls upon Member States to consider taking the
measures necessary to prevent the provision by their
nationals or from their territories of any financial,
technical or other forms of support to or for the benefit
of the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe or other Rwandan armed
groups operating in the territory of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo;


9. Reiterates its call on all States to intensify
cooperation with and render all necessary assistance to
the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda;


10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
RICE