Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Election and the Inauguration Ceremony of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

December 1, 2006

Japan welcomes the formal confirmation of the President-elect after the presidential election of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as an important step forward in the country's democratization and peace process, and congratulates President Kabila on his election. Japan regards that this presidential election was highly important for the DRC to put an end, on the basis of the comprehensive peace agreement, to the conflicts that resulted in the death of more than 3.3 million people, and achieve domestic peace and national reconciliation.
Considering the significance of this election for DRC's democratization and peace process, Japan, which together with other members of the international community supported this election, will dispatch Mr. Masayoshi Hamada, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs to the inauguration ceremony of the President scheduled for December 6 (Wed) as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy.
Japan expects that the Government of the DRC under the leadership of the new democratically-elected President will make efforts for further progress of democratization, reconstruction and development. Japan will support such efforts of the Government of the DRC and hopes to strengthen friendly relations with the DRC.

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