New York, July 21 (QNA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the signing of the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement in Doha, in a statement released by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric. Guterres stated that the Declaration “opens a pathway” towards lasting peace, security, and the return of displaced persons and refugees. He urged all parties to ensure the swift implementation of the commitments undertaken. The UN chief expressed his appreciation to the State of Qatar for its facilitation of this process, and reiterated the United Nations’ commitment to supporting efforts toward peace, protection of civilians, and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in close collaboration with national authorities, regional and international partners. For his part, Bruno Lemarquis, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Acting Head of MONUSCO, stated: "This important declaration marks a shift towards easing tensions and protecting civilians seriously affected by the conflict." "We commend the commitments made and call for their timely and good-faith implementation,” he added. Doha hosted the signing ceremony of the Declaration of Principles between the the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (M23) on Saturday, marking a significant step toward achieving peace and stability in eastern Congo. Numerous countries and international and regional organizations have commended Qatar for its key diplomatic role in facilitating the dialogue, which ultimately led to the signing of the Declaration of Principles between the DRC government and the M23 movement. (QNA)