UK / French Joint Declaration on Zaire – 8 November 1996

Below is the text of the joint UK / French Declaration on Zaire, issued on 8th November 1996.

JOINT DECLARATION:

The President of the French Republic and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom have discussed the situation in the Zairean province of Kivu and the tragic situation currently being experienced by more than one million people deprived of humanitarian assistance.

The two countries have decided to coordinate their efforts closely, especially within the framework of the United Nations Security Council and the European Union, so that the necessary international arrangements can swiftly be put in place to enable humanitarian aid reliably to reach displaced persons and refugees in Zaire once again. They are ready to contribute to this with the longer term objective of enabling the voluntary return of these people to their country of origin.

France and the United Kingdom remain convinced that in addition to this immediate humanitarian objective, a political solution to the problems should be found in association with the Governments in the region. In this connection, preparation for the International Conference on Peace, Security and Development for the Great Lakes Region under the aegis of the United Nations and the OAU should begin as soon as possible.

John Major.

Jacques Chirac.