Goma, 13 November 2010 - The first police station constructed under the Stabilization Programme for the East (STAREC) was inaugurated on 10 November 2010 at Sake, 30 km southwest of the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma.

The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, Fidèle Sarassoro, inaugurated the building in the presence of Congolese administrative and police authorities, as wells the Dutch and German ambassadors to the DRC Thirteen other police stations are expected to be ready for inauguration in both Kivus and in Oriental Province's Ituri district soon.

In handing over the building to the Congolese authorities Deputy Special Representative Sarassoro spoke of the role of the police in a society especially in post conflict societies.

"Among the set mission goals as envisaged in the proposed new Organic Law," he said, "I wish to emphasise today, in particular, that the primary responsibility of the police is to serve the citizens of this country, both in urban and rural areas, to provide permanent assistance and rescue service to the population, and to protect individual rights as set out in the Constitution."

"Today the international doctrine pertaining to policing is bound to be overhauled in order to adapt to the modern visions of democratic governance: the role of a State, the role of local communities and civil society, and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens "he added..

The Deputy Special Representative also reminded his audience that the provision of security is a state responsibility throughout world:

"Security of Congolese citizens is a precious asset which must be ensured by the sovereign State and which is the main focus of the joint efforts of the United Nations, international and development partners. Against this background, combined efforts are needed to help in capacity building of the law enforcement agencies in the DRC, in order for them to accomplish their tasks. The United Nations and its international partners are also supporting efforts on good governance and development, which will strengthen the State capacity to deliver essential services to the population."

In partnership with eleven donors and specialized agencies of the UN system, some US$180 million have been allocated to the STAREC (stabilization and reconstruction) programme. The third component of the Stabilization Programme for the East requires significant support by MONUSCO Police to help, among other things, with the reforms of the Congolese National Police.

"The opening of the police station in Sake owes much to the assistance of the Netherlands, which financed the cost of construction of 14 police stations in the East. This is also true for the Congolese National Police, the United Nations police and the implementing agency – UNOPS - and the involvement of men and women who have fought for the territory of Sake, to be provided with a modern and functional police station. All actors involved in strengthening the capacity of the national police are driven by the same ideal. That ideal, he said, is to ensure a working environment for Congolese police officers in order to enable them carry out their duties and to ensure that all Congolese citizens and victims benefit from a building that is worthy of public service."

"The present inauguration is just a first step, because within the next three months, 13 more police stations will be handed over to the Congolese National Police in North and South Kivus and Ituri." He also told them that the construction of housing units for police officers around these police stations would begin shortly. This will provide decent living conditions for those officers that would be deployed to the region.

SRSG Sarassoro announced that a training programme led by United Nations Police and funded by the UN Peace Consolidation Fund will soon commence and that this programme is aimed at complementing these efforts so that support is not limited to providing infrastructure but also help strengthen the capacity of police officers.

The Inspector General of the National Police, Charles Bisengimana, who on behalf of the Congolese government officially handed over the building to the police commander, expressed confidence that the building would contribute to restoring State authority in the North Kivu province. He thanked all the international partners who contributed to its construction, and asked all the police officers to make the best use of it, for the benefit of the people.