Peace and Security vital for SADC – Kalaba

Peace and Security vital for SADC – Kalaba

Lusaka, Oct 21, 2014, ZANIS–Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba says peace and security in the region and specifically in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was important for the good of the region.

Mr Kalaba says the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) should continue putting efforts together to promote peace and security in the region.

Speaking during the Third Joint SADC and ICGLR Ministerial Meeting taking place in Luanda, Angola yesterday, Mr Kalaba said the meeting was critical as it would look at important elements of demobilisation, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement.

Mr Kalaba noted that the region remains committed to the achievement of substantive security and enhancing evaluation mechanisms for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), particularly for those willing to disarm and be repatriated. 

And Speaking during the official opening of the meeting SADC Chair and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola and ICGLR Regional Inter-Ministerial Chair, Georges Chikoti reiterated the importance of the meeting and urged Members States to give it the seriousness it deserved.                                                                                                      

The Third Joint SADC and ICGLR Ministerial Meeting is a follow up to the Second Joint SADC/ICGLR Ministerial Meeting held in July 2014.

The main purpose of the current meeting is to review the political and security situation in the eastern DRC since the second meeting.

The Meetings are a fulfilment of the decision of the Joint Summit of the Heads of State and Government of SADC and ICGLR for Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence and International Cooperation to meet and review progress on the political and security situation in the region.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer Alick Banda.