GREAT LAKES: Experts meet on strengthening mechanisms for regional peace

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

NAIROBI, 27 Jun 2005 (IRIN) - Experts on peace and security from Great Lakes countries and international organisations began meeting in Nairobi on Monday to prepare documents that will constitute the Pact of Security, Stability and Development that heads of state of the region are to sign in November.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the joint UN and African Union Secretariat of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the experts are to work out subregional security mechanisms to halt the proliferation of small arms and light weapons; prevent conflict; reduce trans-national crime and terrorism as well as to improve the management of borders.

Besides peace and security, other protocols and projects will be developed concerning democracy and good governance; economic development and regional integration and humanitarian and social issues

The experts are from the core countries of the Great Lakes conference: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The experts will be examining a total of 30 projects. The meeting is will end on Friday.

[ENDS]