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UN Chief in Democratic Republic of Congo to Support Democracy,
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Peacekeepers
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=15F8BCD:A6F02AD83191E1600D24D55F64A518F19574F7DCC14957C0 Nearly 20,000 UN
peacekeepers overseeing DRC's transition to peace following five-year
civil war that ended in 2002





Ban Ki-Moon delivers the keynote address to the DRC National Assembly
at the People's Palace in Kinshasa, 27 Jan 07U.N. Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon is in the Democratic Republic of Congo to show support for
the country's fledgling democracy and boost the morale of U.N.
peacekeepers stabilizing the nation.

Mr. Ban's arrival in the capital, Kinshasa, Saturday marks the start
of a larger tour that will include a visit to the Africa Summit in
Ethiopia Monday.

During his visit to the DRC, the U.N. chief will meet with President
Joseph Kabila and speak to the national assembly.

Nearly 20,000 U.N. peacekeepers are overseeing Congo's transition to
peace following a five-year civil war that ended in 2002.

The country held democratic elections last year for the first time in
more than 40 years. Despite their success, humanitarian observers say
the Democratic Republic of Congo is still not stable and needs the
continued presence of U.N. peacekeepers.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.


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