SG/SM/9878
AFR/1161
17 May 2005
Secretary-General Welcomes 13 May Adoption of Draft Constitution by National Assembly of Democratic Republic of Congo
NEW YORK, 16 May (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption on 13 May of the draft constitution by the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He looks forward to the draft being put to a popular referendum in the shortest time possible, and notes with satisfaction the progress made recently in technical preparations for the upcoming presidential, parliamentary, and local elections. In this connection, he urges the transitional institutions to continue to take concrete steps towards the holding of free and fair elections, including by adopting all necessary laws as quickly as possible.
The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to assist the transitional authorities, with the support of regional leaders, as well as bilateral and multilateral donors, in completing the transitional process, facilitating the further development of democratic governance, and promoting other necessary political and economic reforms.
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