KAMPALA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- UN secretary-general's special envoy for Africa's Great Lakes region, Mary Robinson, says the ongoing war rhetoric in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is unhelpful in ending decades of war in the vast Central African country.
A statement issued by her office during her visit here on Thursday said she was seriously concerned about what seems an atmosphere of rising tension and threatening rhetoric in recent days in the eastern DRC.
"In her ongoing discussions with the leaders in the region, the Special Envoy is stressing that the political cooperation through the Framework should remain the central focus of efforts to resolve the conflicts and achieve peace, security and development, " the statement said.
In recent days, the M23 rebels in the eastern DRC said they are ready to attack the UN intervention force in case it attacks their bases.
The UN Security Council on March 28 authorized the deployment of an intervention brigade within the current UN peacekeeping operation in the DRC to eliminate rebel forces including the M23 group.
Robinson, who is also the former Irish president, in a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday said the region should focus on implementation of the UN peace, security and cooperation framework for the DRC.
The cooperation framework was signed by 11 regional member countries in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in February this year to end the cycles of conflict and crisis in the eastern DRC and to build peace.
The agreement encompasses commitments at the national, regional and international levels to bring peace and stability to the eastern DRC and the region.
Robinson, on a two-day official visit to Uganda as part of her African tour, also met with Ugandan Defense Minister Crispus Kiyonga, who is the facilitator of the Kampala peace talks between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government.
"She urges the parties to achieve renewed momentum in that process. The Special Envoy recognizes the importance of regional efforts to contribute to solutions, and believes cooperation with the United Nations will be important to the success of the Framework agreement," said the statement.
During her stay in Uganda, Robinson also held meetings with civil society organizations, including women's group, whose engagement she sees as crucial for ensuring the success of the framework through full compliance with the commitments at the national, regional and international levels.
The special envoy departed Uganda for Burundi for talks on Thursday and Friday in continuation of her first visit to the region.
She will conclude her regional tour in South Africa on Sunday. Before coming to Uganda, she was in the DRC and Rwanda.
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