DATE=4/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248273
TITLE=CONGO / CEASEFIRE (S/L)
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
*INTRO: THE PRESIDENTS OF UGANDA AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
CONGO HAVE REPORTEDLY SIGNED A PEACE AGREEMENT FOR CONGO
FOLLOWING TALKS IN LIBYA. VOA'S JOHN PITMAN HAS MORE ON THIS
STORY FROM OUR WEST AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: ACCORDING LIBYA'S STATE-RUN MEDIA, THE AGREEMENT WAS
SIGNED BY UGANDAN PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI AND CONGOLESE
PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA ON SUNDAY IN LIBYA.
THE ACCORD REPORTEDLY INCLUDES A CEASEFIRE, A PROVISION FOR THE
DEPLOYMENT OF AN AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO THE DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO, AND A CALL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL FOREIGN
TROOPS FROM THE CONGO.
THE LIBYAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTEDLY SAYS THE AGREMENT ALSO
ENCOURAGES THE CONGO TO ENGAGE IN WHAT IT CALLS "A NATIONAL
DIALOGUE."
INITIAL REPORTS FROM LIBYA DO NOT SAY WHEN THESE ELEMENTS OF THE
PEACE AGREEMENT WILL BE PUT IN PLACE. LIBYAN MEDIA SAY THE
PRESIDENTS SIGNED THE AGREEMENT FOLLOWING A SUMMIT MEETING WITH
LIBYAN PRESIDENT MUAMMAR GADDAFI.
/// REST OPT ///
THE SUMMIT WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY CHAD'S PRESIDENT, IDRISS DEBY,
AND ISAYAS AFEWERKI, THE PRESIDENT OF ERITREA.
LIBYAN STATE TELEVISION REPORTEDLY SHOWED MR. KABILA AND MR.
MUSEVENI SHAKING HANDS AFTER SIGNING THE AGREEMENT. ACCORDING TO
THE REUTERS NEWS AGENCY, MR. KABILA SAID THE TWO HAD, IN HIS
WORDS, "MADE IMPORTANT STEPS TOWARDS ESTABLISHING PEACE."
MR. KABILA IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO THE CONGOLESE CAPITAL,
KINSHASA, ON MONDAY, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY HE WILL ADDRESS THE
NATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/JP/WFR
18-Apr-99 6:33 PM EDT (2233 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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