Brussels, 29/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - Javier Solana, High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, welcomed today's approval of Resolution 1493 by the United Nations Security Council, extending and strengthening the mandate of the UN Organisation Mission (MONUC) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC: "I welcome the Security Council's unanimous decision to equip the MONUC with the mandate it needs. It marks another important step towards stabilising the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the determination of the International Community to bring to an end this regional crisis. The European Union will full support the implementation of this resolution, inter alia by ensuring a smooth and efficient handover of security and stabilisation tasks in the Ituri area between the reinforced MONUC contingent and the EU 'ARTEMIS' force".
United Nations Resolution 1493 adopted on Monday, extend the MONUC mandate by a year and increases the mission personnel, which will now be 10,800 strong (instead of the current 8,700). The resolution also allows MONUC to "use all military means" to carry out its mission. It is also planning on a year long embargo on all weapons supplies to armed groups, Congolese or foreign, who are active in Ituri and other southern and northern provinces of Kivu.