STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. RUPIAH BWEZANI BANDA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, WHEN RECEIVING LETTERS OF CREDENCE FROM THE AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HIS EXCELLENCY MR. FLORIBET KASEBA MAKUNKO ON 19TH FEBRUARY, 2010
YOUR EXCELLENCY, MR KASEBA MUKUNKO, AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA,
I WELCOME YOU TO ZAMBIA AND TO STATE HOUSE IN PARTICULAR. I ACCEPT YOUR LETTERS OF CREDENCE ACCREDITING YOU AS AMBASSADOR OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AND THE LETTERS RECALLING YOUR PREDECESSOR.
RELATIONS BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HAVE A LONG HISTORY AND HAVE REMAINED WARM AND CORDIAL OVER THE YEARS. ZAMBIA SHARES THE LONGEST COMMON BORDER WITH THE CONGO COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. WE HAVE MAINTAINED CLOSE RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION IN MANY AREAS OF MUTUAL INTEREST. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THESE RELATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH DURING YOUR TOUR OF DUTY.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
UNDER THE FRAMEWORK OF THE JOINT PERMANENT COMMISSION OF CO-OPERATION (JPC) ESTABLISHED IN DECEMBER, 1982, ZAMBIA AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HAVE CONTINUED TO COOPERATE. COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IS REFLECTED IN VARIOUS SECTORS INCLUDING TRADE AND INDUSTRY, FINANCE, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY, IMMIGRATION AND BORDER SECURITY.
THROUGH THE JPC, WE HAVE ALSO MANAGED TO RESOLVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES AFFECTING OUR TWO COUNTRIES. THEREFORE, LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY GOVERNMENT’S GRATITUDE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DRC FOR THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND HARMONY BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES, ESPECIALLY ALONG OUR COMMON BORDER.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
THE DRC IS A VERY IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY. DEVELOPMENTS WHETHER SOCIAL, ECONOMIC OR POLITICAL WHICH TAKE PLACE IN THE DRC, HAVE A DIRECT BEARING GLOBALLY AND REGIONALLY. IT IS IN THIS REGARD, THAT I WISH TO COMMEND THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF YOUR COUNTRY FOR WORKING TOWARDS CONSOLIDATING PEACE, STABILITY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN EASTERN CONGO AND THE GREAT LAKES REGION.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
ZAMBIA AND DRC HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER IN TRYING TO RESOLVE ISSUES AFFECTING THE GREAT LAKES REGION AS A WHOLE. AS CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFEREENCE ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION, I PLEDGE MY FULL SUPPORT TO THE PROMOTION OF PEACE, SECURITY, DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE OBSERVANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE REGION. ONCE THESE VALUES ARE ATTAINED, THE REGION IS, WITHOUT DOUBT, BOUND TO DEVELOP.
IN THIS REGARD, I WELCOME THE RELATIVE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE EASTERN DRC WHICH GIVES US HOPE FOR PROSPECTS OF A QUICK RETURN TO PEACE AND SECURITY IN THAT REGION. WE ALSO APPLAUD THE NEW RELATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN FOSTERED BETWEEN THE DRC AND RWANDA, IN PARTICULAR, AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
AS I CONCLUDE, LET ME STATE THAT I AND MY GOVERNMENT LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR BILATERAL COOPERATION IN THE MANY AREAS OF MUTUAL INTEREST TO OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES.
IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT YOU WILL FIND YOUR STAY IN ZAMIBA REWARDING. I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK AND SUCCESS AS YOU TAKE UP YOUR ASSIGNMENT.
ONCE AGAIN I WELCOME YOU TO ZAMBIA.
