UN Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa stressed that she has no other agenda than to help the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries to regain peace. Speaking to Radio Okapi, a radio station backed by the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC that is known by its acronym MONUSCO, Mary Robinson said it was important for her to remove any ambiguity regarding her position. "As Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, I have no other agenda than to help this country [... ] to restore peace for the people so the country can move forward." Mrs. Robinson said that she fully supports Resolution 2098, which was unanimously approved in March by the 15-member UN Security Council. "This is a very clear resolution that provides a vision and a holistic and comprehensive approach to promoting peace and stability in the DRC. In my opinion, it leaves no room for ambiguity." She added that the resolution both launches a political process that aims to bring peace to the DRC, as well as authorizes an intervention brigade within the current UN peacekeeping force. "These are two pillars that go together, one does not exclude the other," the envoy stressed.

allAfrica.com: Central Africa: UN Envoy Says Her Only Agenda Is Helping Restore Peace to Africa's Great Lakes Region (Page 1 of 2): "Resolution 2098, which extends the work of MONUSCO through March 2014, provides a framework for the UN to support Congolese authorities by protecting civilians, neutralizing armed groups, and implementing key reforms to consolidate peace in the country, particularly in the area of security sector reform and rule of law.

The resolution also approves an intervention brigade to carry out targeted offensive operations, with or without the Congolese national army, against armed groups that threaten peace in the eastern part of DRC - a region that is prone to cycles of violence and consequent humanitarian suffering.

The objectives of the new force - based in North Kivu province in eastern DRC - is to neutralize armed groups, reduce the threat they pose to State authority and civilian security and make space for stabilization activities.

The brigade is putting in place measures gradually, Mrs. Robinson told Radio Okapi, in collaboration with national authorities to help address the situation on the ground." PLS CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

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