Addressing the Security
Council on Africa's strife-torn Great Lakes
region, Ban said he is "deeply concerned" about the current fighting
and urged all parties to the conflict to return to achieving a political solution
as soon as possible.

"Conflict and
lawlessness in eastern DRC have crippled development and entrenched extreme
poverty and suffering," he said, stressing the importance of pursuing
constructive dialogue between the government of the DRC and its eastern
neighbors.

The UN chief called for
persistent efforts towards structural reforms within the country which will
help address the root causes of the violence.

"The government has
taken initial steps towards army reform, decentralization and national
dialogue. It is essential to translate these commitments into tangible
results," he said.

While at the regional
level, Ban called on leaders to work together to define a common agenda for
lasting peace and prosperity based on trade, economic cooperation and mutual
respect for each others' sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"All parties must
avoid renewed hostilities and achieve progress on the political track," he
stressed.

Tensions in the region
have been increasing recently as the M23 rebels publicly decried the
deployment of an intervention brigade within The UN Stabilization Mission in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and broke off the
so-called Kampala
peace talks with the DRC government.

The deployment of an
intervention brigade within MONUSCO was authorized by the UN Security
Council in March to carry out targeted offensive operations, with or without
the Congolese national army, against armed groups that threaten peace in
eastern DRC.