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Tag der Deutschen Einheit or Day of German Unity--the national day
celebrated to mark the reunification of Germany on October 3,
1990--was marked in Kinshasa by the strongly-worded remarks
castigating M23 and Rwanda by German Ambassador Peter Blomeyer, who is
ending his term in the DRC begun in August 2010.
Ambassador Blomeyer made those remarks on two separate occasions.
First, in an interview with Kinshasa daily Le Potentiel on Tuesday,
October 2. And today at the celebration of Tag der Deutschen Einheit
at Kinshasa Germany embassy.
In the interview with Le Potentiel, Ambassador Blomeyer said in part:
"Germany is very concerned about the deterioration in the security
situation in the east of the country.
"It was a mutiny that was almost quelled by the FARDC, up to when
mutineers retreated to the border area in order to be reinforced by a
neighboring country of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The rebellion as well as its external support are utterly unacceptable.
"The territorial integrity of the DRC and the country's sovereignty
must be respected by all the stakeholders.
"We've asked Rwanda to explain itself on this issue in view of the
revelations by the UN Group of Experts about Kigali's support to M23.
"As of today, we haven't received a convincing response.
"Consequently, our budgetary aid to Rwanda, estimated at €21 million,
remains suspended."
Incidently, said Ambassador Blomeyer, the bilateral aid of Germany to
the DRC is more than ten times that amount, hovering around €239
million--but not as budgetary supplement, but in support of various
conservation, rural development, potable water access, and security
sector reform programs.
Speaking from the German embassy on Tag der Deutschen Einheit,
Ambassador Blomeyer repeated almost verbatim what he said in the
interview with Le Potentiel.
Said Blomeyer:
"We are very preoccupied with regard to the deterioration of the
humanitarian situation.
"We are demanding [M23] to stop right away using children in the war,
the violations against women and children; but above all to stop this
mutiny."
--(With radiookapi.net & lepotentielonline.com)
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PHOTO CREDITS: Innocent Olenga/Radio Okapi
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