Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations of the Foreign Ministry on the Progress of the Ceasefire Agreement for the Conflict related to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

September 1, 1999

Japan welcomes the fact that the anti-government Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) signed the Ceasefire Agreement concerning the conflict over the Democratic Republic of the Congo on August 31 in Lusaka, Zambia, paving the way to peace in the country. Japan highly values the persistent efforts made by Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania and other African concerned countries leading to the signing.
Japan strongly hopes that all the parties concerned will faithfully abide by the agreement so that peace and stability will be restored to the country and the central African region as a whole.
Japan has hoped for and encouraged an early realization of peace through respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries as well as through negotiations among the parties concerned. While carefully watching how the agreement will be observed by those concerned, Japan will study what contribution it can make to the joint efforts now being made by the countries concerned, the U.N., the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and others for the peace and stability of the country.

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