SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES INSTALLATION OF NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT

IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the installation of the Government of National Unity and Transition in Kinshasa, marked by the swearing-in ceremony of the Vice Presidents today.

This is a historic milestone in the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.� The vision of peace and reconciliation articulated in the 1999 Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement is taking shape.

The Secretary-General calls on the Congolese leaders to fulfil their responsibilities in meeting the daunting challenges of transition; and steering their country onto the path of reconciliation, recovery, as well as free and fair elections.� The United Nations stands ready to play its part in assisting the Congolese consolidate the hard-won gains in the peace process.

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