United Nations

 NEW YORK, 14 December (UN Headquarters) -- This is the text of a statement issued today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

 Today, the Security Council has adopted Resolution 1332, by which it extends the mandate of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) by six months until 15 June 2001.

 The Council has also agreed to my proposal to deploy United Nations military observers to monitor and verify the parties’ disengagement of forces from confrontation lines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Ultimately, if conditions permit, I may propose other measures to assist the parties to carry out the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, including the possible deployment of United Nations troops.

 No military measures, however, can succeed in the long run unless the political aspects of the Lusaka Agreement are also respected.  To that end, I again urge the parties, especially the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to take part in the inter-Congolese dialogue required under the terms of the Lusaka Agreement.  The parties should resume the dialogue as soon as possible.  In this context, I welcome the indications we have recently received that the Government may be more willing to talk to other parties, to release political prisoners and to permit political activity.

 On my part, I am prepared to assist the parties in promoting the peace process and building up of the recent regional initiatives.  I am also contemplating additional steps to be taken in this regard.