It was seen as an important moment in the political life of the country, marking the beginning of a process of reflection and collective action for peace and development. In agreeing on the final Statement of the Forum, the participants recognized the absolute necessity of taking urgent measures to sustain the will for peace'. They endorsed an immediate action programme to reorganize the armed forces and police in order to strengthen its mission of preserving order, and to rehabilitate the judicial services of the country. In particular, a Committee was constituted and charged with proposing a programme for the disarmament of the various paramilitary forces associated with political groups. As these forces are composed primarily of young men, their economic reintegration into the civil society is seen as a high priority.
Heads of state and government from the neighbouring countries of Central Africa attended the Forum and added their weight to the importance of its decisions. This is a good sign for future peace in the sub region. Among the leaders present, in addition to the Director General of UNESCO and the President of the Congo, were the Presidents of Burundi, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and the Prime Minister of Tchad and President of the Economic and Social Council of Cameroon.
The leaders affirmed their commitment to dialogue and consensus and their adherence to a culture of peace as defined by UNESCO. They signed a Communique of Chiefs of State and Government of Central Africa committing themselves to pursue their contacts in order to assure the realization of the dynamic process of dialogue for conflict resolution set in motion by the Forum.
Three Commissions worked extensively during the forum: peace and education; peace and democracy; and peace and sustainable development. They each elaborated detailed sets of recommendations which may be used as the basis for the development of a National Culture of Peace Programme in the Congo.