Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) yesterday agreed to further their collaboration in finding lasting peace in the sub region.
A high-level meeting between both sides took place in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, yesterday, with both governments reiterating continued desire to restore and maintain an environment of peace, security and mutual and brotherly understanding between the two countries, a joint statement said.
The Rwandan delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo, while the hosts were led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie, Raymond Tshibanda Ntungamulongo.
“The two delegations exchanged information on security problems in the region and considered the concerns of each party in connection with the situation in eastern DRC,” the statement reads in part.
The officials “reaffirmed the commitment to continue working together for peace, stability and development in the sub region”.
They agree that their respective territories do not form the basis of destabilization of one or the other, it added.
The bilateral meeting, which was part of the “ongoing dialogue” between the two sides, agreed to operationalise the Joint Verification Commission whose duties include investigating “suspicions of outside support to the mutineers and other opportunists”.
Both sides “renewed determination to carry on with the efforts to complete eradication of the FDLR terrorists and other armed groups all skimming the sub region”.
It was also agreed that a “consultative and evaluation meeting” would take place on June 28 in the Congolese eastern town of Goma between the defence ministers of both countries. The meeting will also be attended by the military chiefs from both sides.
“Both parties expressed their wish to continue and intensify the existing cooperation in revitalizing all existing bilateral mechanisms of cooperation,” the statement adds.
The officials observed that the meeting took place in “a constructive spirit of sincerity”, with Minister Mushikiwabo thanking the hosts for the “the warm and fraternal welcome”.
A week ago, Kinshasa claimed that the rebels currently fighting its army in the country’s North Kivu province had been trained and recruited on the Rwandan soil, repeating allegations by Human Rights Watch, and which were also said to be contained in a leaked UN internal report.
Rwanda has, however, refuted the claims describing them as “false and dangerous ramous” and challenging those making them to provide material evidence.
Both ministers had last met in Kigali in May during which both sides signed several bilateral deals.
Source: Newtimes, June 20, 2012
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