Q. (inaudible question on DRC Framework signing and proposed Intervention Brigade).

Secretary-General: Signing is important, historic, and that is a milestone. But the more important thing would be how to implement those commitments. This agreement has an oversight mechanism in two areas. First, a commitment by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to implement all that we expect that the DRC Government and people would do, including security sector reform as well as capacity building of FARDC and closely working together with the leaders of the neighbouring countries. And another responsibility is to be shared by the signing parties of the neighbouring countries together with the regional organizations, [and that] is that they should help and preserve and protect the territorial sovereignty and peace and stability of the DRC by providing all necessary political support. Then, on the part of the witness parties we have guarantors – the United Nations, the African Union, the ICGLR and SADC. I intend with the Chairperson of the African Union [Commission], as a way of oversight mechanism, to hold [review meetings] at least twice a year, once during the Summit meeting of the African Union and second during the General Assembly meeting. We will try to meet at the leaders’ level to monitor, to follow up the implementation of this agreement. I hope this will be a very good mechanism. This is a very innovative one to ensure the implementation of this [framework agreement].

As you know, the idea of how to strengthen the capacity of MONUSCO has been the subject of discussion. I am going to report to the Security Council upon my return on the signing ceremony as well as on the strong commitments of the leaders in the region. The Security Council has been discussing the idea of deploying an effective and robust mandate to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Q: (inaudible question on Intervention Brigade)

SG: This Intervention Brigade will be composed of the Troop Contributing Countries. We have already been contacting possible Troop Contributing Countries. We are receiving quite positive responses. Now, it depends upon how soon the Security Council will decide on deploying this Intervention Brigade. I don’t think it will take a long time. It will be made very soon. And as I said upon my return I am going to brief the Security Council on this very historic signing of this Framework Agreement which will facilitate the process of their consultations. This will be a peace-enforcing brigade. As you know, MONUSCO is a peacekeeping operation there. We know that depending upon the situation on the ground the peacekeepers should be given some specific mandate. This I hope and I believe will be a peace-enforcing [intervention brigade] operation. Thank you very much.