Statement by the Press Secretary/ Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Presidential and Legislative Elections of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

August 1, 2006

Presidential and Legislative elections were held generally without major disorders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on July 30 (Sun) and 31(Mon). The Government of Japan welcomes this as it represents an important step in the development of the country's peace process.
The Government of Japan applauds the interim Government of the DRC and the Independent Election Commission for their efforts to carry out the democratic Presidential and Legislative elections, despite various kinds of difficulties, following the plebiscite on the draft constitution that was held last December, and as well as people of the DRC who went to cast their ballots. The Government of Japan also highly commends the partner countries and international organizations, including the United Nations, for cooperating with the Government of the DRC implementing the elections.
The Government of Japan considers that achieving sustainable peace in the DR C is crucial not only for the peace and stability of Great Lakes region, but also for that of the whole of Africa, and even for that of the international community at last. Therefore, Japan takes a policy of extending all possible cooperation for new nation-building in the DRC, and has already provided wide variety of assistance including support for the elections. To the elections this time the Government of Japan dispatched a monitoring mission on the basis of its International Peace Cooperation Law.

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