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Stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo must be Canadian foreign policy priority

News release

MONTREAL ? June 9, 2004 ? The world community cannot afford to let the struggling peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) succumb to renewed violence, says Rights & Democracy.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's fragile transition to democracy is the focus of Rights & Democracy's annual international Think Tank, which takes place tomorrow, June 10, at the headquarters of Foreign Affairs Canada in Ottawa.

Renewed fighting in the Congo, which saw the eastern city of Bukavu fall to renegade forces last week and at least 100 deaths in the unrest that followed, cannot be allowed to escalate. A return to conflict in the volatile Great Lakes Region of Central Africa would prove catastrophic to human rights in the area. War in the Congo alone has cost more than 2.5-million lives since 1998.

?The Congolese people are desperate for peace and Canada must do her part to ensure they are not let down,? said Jean-Louis Roy, President of Rights & Democracy. ?The process for such peace is in place, but it needs the international community's firm support if it is to take root and flourish.?

Thursday's discussion brings together senior representatives of the DRC's transitional government and civil society organizations, Canadian government officials and the United Nations. Topics will include the current human rights situation in the Congo and policy options for Canada and the rest of the international community. Canada currently co-chairs the Great Lakes donor group, which consists of 28 member-nations and 10 international finance organizations.

Guest speakers joining Rights & Democracy's Board of Directors include: Marie-Madeleine Kalala, the DRC's Minister of Human Rights; J?r?me Bonso of the National League for Free Elections; Ellys? Francine Dimandja, a women's rights activist and member of Parliament representing DRC civil society; Behrooz Sadry, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DRC; and Marc-Andr? Brault, Canada's Special Envoy for Africa's Great Lakes Region.

The Think Tank takes place Thursday, June 10, 2004, from 8 am to 5 pm in the Robertson Conference Room of the Lester B. Pearson Building, 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa. Journalists interested in attending the Think Tank or scheduling an interview are asked to contact Steve Smith at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073 or 514-898-4157.