DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, October 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy Said Djinnit completed a two day visit to Tanzania in continuation of familiarization visits to signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region. While in Tanzania, the Special Envoy met with Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Hon. Bernard Kamilius Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.
The Special Envoy and the President discussed issues pertaining to the implementation of the PSC-Framework including the urgent need to tackle the issue of all negative forces in eastern DRC, in particular, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the repatriation of former
M23 combatants from Uganda and Rwanda in line with a peace deal signed in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2013. Special Envoy Djinnit and President Kikwete exchanged views on the forthcoming Joint Ministerial meeting of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) scheduled on 20 October in Luanda, Angola, to assess progress on the FDLR voluntary disarmament process. They also discussed the need to strengthen regional cooperation and build how to confidence. “As member of the ICGLR, SADC and EAC, Tanzania is central to the region and has been a key player in all initiatives meant to find peaceful solutions to the regional problems,” Mr. Djinnit said.
He further congratulated the President for the country’s role as a peace broker in the region. According to SESG Djinnit, “Tanzanian troops in the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) have contributed immensely in maintaining stability in eastern DRC, and I commend the dedication of men and women of the FIB troops contributing countries assigned to this crucial task.”
SESG Djinnit also expressed his gratitude to the people and Government of Tanzania for offering asylum, support and protection to refugees from different countries in the Great Lakes. He welcomed in particular the recent decision to grant citizenship to about 165.000 Burundian refugees who have been in the country since 1972. “Tanzania has been a peaceful, stable, and hospitable nation for the people in distress in the region since its independence and the naturalization of Burundians refugees, especially on the occasion of the celebration of Julius Nyerere Day is a wonderful gesture which is in line with the core values of the country,”
Mr. Djinnit said.
After Tanzania, Mr. Djinnit travelled to Bujumbura, Burundi, to meet with the country’s authorities.
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