KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Members of the U.N. Security Council Monday visited the Congo, one of the conflict-ridden countries the world body is seeking to bring peace and stability.
In a statement released after a meeting with Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila, the leader of the panel's mission -- Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere of France -- underscored the importance that Congo elections are held as scheduled next year in the former Zaire.
The DRC is a nation the size of Western Europe, in which the world organization has a large peace-keeping force.
The Central Africa mission began Sunday with a visit to the Rwandan capital, Kigali, and a meeting with President Paul Kagame. De La Sabliere said among the many issues discussed were cooperation in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa and the a verification mechanism that was set up between the countries to mitigate cross-border tensions.
They also discussed the situation in the DRC, where ethnic hostilities have spilled across the common border and the question of disarmament and repatriation of the various forces there.
Tuesday the panel visits neighboring Burundi where the United Nations launched a new peacekeeping operation earlier this year.
