DATE=4/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248611
TITLE=CONGO/TALKS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PEACE TALKS TO END THE NINE-MONTH CONFLICT IN THE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ARE DUE TO BE HELD IN ROME ON FRIDAY
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PEACE GROUP, THE SANT'
EGIDIO COMMUNITY. BUT AS TODD PITMAN IN KIGALI REPORTS, THE
REBELS SAY THE TALKS ARE A WASTE OF TIME AND THEY WON'T ATTEND.
TEXT: THE LEADER OF THE MAIN REBEL GROUP, CONGOLESE RALLY FOR
DEMOCRACY, ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA, SAYS TALKS IN ROME WERE
INITIALLY ARRANGED AS A ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE
OPPOSITION GROUPS AND THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA.
BUT MR. WAMBA SAYS PRESIDENT KABILA IS TRYING TO TURN THE EVENT
INTO A BROAD DISCUSSION ON THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF THE CONGO,
RATHER THAN A SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO END THE FIGHTING.
MR. WAMBA SAYS THE INITIAL INVITATION LIST HAS SWOLLEN FROM JUST
TWENTY PARTICIPANTS TO 257, MOST OF WHOM HE SAYS WERE HAND-PICKED
BY PRESIDENT KABILA. IN MR. WAMBA'S WORDS, "THIS IS NOT
DISCUSSION, DIALOGUE OR NEGOTIATIONS. IT'S A CIRCUS, AND NOBODY
WANTS TO WASTE TIME WITH THAT."
EFFORTS TO END THE FIGHTING PEACEFULLY HAVE YIELDED LITTLE
RESULTS SINCE THE REBELS, WITH BACKING FROM RWANDA AND UGANDA,
TOOK UP ARMS NEARLY NINE MONTHS AGO. LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT KABILA
SIGNED A PEACE AGREEMENT IN LIBYA WITH HIS UGANDAN COUNTERPART,
YOWERI MUSEVENI. THE PEACE DEAL CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE
CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL FOREIGN TROOPS,
AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE.
BUT UGANDA, WHOSE TROOPS ARE BACKING THE REBELS IN NORTHERN
CONGO, HAS SINCE PLAYED DOWN THE AGREEMENT, SAYING IT WAS ONLY A
DECLARATION OF INTENT. UGANDA SAYS IT WILL PULL OUT ONLY WHEN
ITS SECURITY CONCERNS ARE FULLY ADDRESSED.
THE REBELS, FOR THEIR PART, REJECTED THE ACCORD, AS DID RWANDA.
THE REBELS DEMANDED INSTEAD WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR ALL ALONG --
DIRECT TALKS WITH PRESIDENT KABILA. (SIGNED)
NEB/TP/ALW/KL
26-Apr-99 9:06 AM EDT (1306 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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