PRESS RELEASES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release    

December 5, 2007                                                           
2007/1098     

Statement by Sean McCormack, Spokesman

Heads of State Communiqué
Tripartite Plus Joint Commission Summit

The following is a Heads of State Communiqué of the Tripartite Plus Joint Commission Summit issued in Addis Ababa today.

Begin Text:

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, President Pierre Nkurunziza of the Republic of Burundi, and Minister of State for Interior Denis Kalume, representing President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, met in Addis Ababa on December 5, 2007 for a Tripartite Plus Joint Commission Summit facilitated by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

At this meeting they agreed:

1.  State institutions must be strengthened in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the security sector, as a prerequisite for long-term solutions to insecurity in Eastern Congo.  Participants committed to support rapid strengthening of these institutions.

2.  No member state will harbor any Negative Forces.  Participants recommitted to deny safe haven or support to any Negative Forces.

3.  Existing agreements among member states, including the November 9, 2007 Nairobi Communiqué signed by the Congolese and Rwandan Governments, must urgently be implemented.  Participants recommitted to do so, including by strengthening the Joint Verification Commission between Congo and Rwanda with third-party assistance.

The meeting took place in a spirit of frank and open exchange that helped to build trust among the member states.

# # #