Mr. President,
Sweden supports the resolution before the Council today, which reactivates the International Commission of Inquiry established by Security Council resolution 1013 (1995) to investigate illegal arms flows to former Rwandan government forces in the Great Lakes region. The Commission did a commendable job during its first period of activity, often under very difficult circumstances. It will have our full support as it resumes its investigations.
The destabilising effect of the arms flows in the Great Lakes region as a whole remains an issue of great concern. Reactivating the Commission of Inquiry is one concrete step which the Security Council can take to deal with one of the causes of the continued instability in this region.
Sweden is deeply concerned at the continued violence in Rwanda, of which the massacre at Mudende last December was a particularly horrible example. Four years after the genocide in Rwanda, we, the International Community, have a responsibility to do everything we can to help the Rwandan people recover from the genocide of 1994 and to prevent the resurgence of genocidal acts. We condemn all armed activities with such motives.
We hope that Rwanda will be able to move forward towards peace and national reconciliation, a democratic process, respect for human rights and economic prosperity.
Today's decision is an important one. Let me conclude by expressing the hope that the resolution will also be met by the necessary political will: to implement the existing arms embargo against the former Rwandan government forces, to cooperate fully with the Commission of Inquiry, and in due course, to take the necessary steps in response to the recommendations the Commission has been asked to make.
Thank you, Mr. President.