DATE=5/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249044
TITLE=SAF / CONGO (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CONFLICT IN CONGO-KINSHASA WAS AT THE CENTER OF TALKS
IN PRETORIA THURSDAY BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY PRESIDENT THABO
MBEKI AND RWANDAN VICE PRESIDENT AND DEFENSE MINISTER PAUL
KAGAME. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM OUR
SOUTHERN AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE MBEKI-KAGAME
MEETING IS NOT PART OF ANY NEW SOUTH AFRICAN INITIATIVE TO
RESOLVE THE CONGO CRISIS.
INSTEAD, THEY SAY IT IS PART OF A RENEWED EFFORT INVOLVING
VARIOUS AFRICAN LEADERS TO GET THE PEACE PROCESS BACK ON TRACK
WITH THE FIGHTING IN ITS NINTH MONTH. THESE OFFICIALS SAY
RWANDAN INVOLVEMENT IN THAT PROCESS IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE IT IS ONE
OF THE MAIN BACKERS OF THE REBEL FORCES FIGHTING AGAINST
CONGO-KINSHASA LEADER LAURENT KABILA.
A SPOKESMAN FOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT MBEKI, RONNIE MAMOEPA, EXPLAINS
SOUTH AFRICA'S POSITION.
/// MAMOEPA ACTUALITY ///
SOUTH AFRICA HAS BEEN OF THE VIEW THAT AT THE END OF THE
DAY THE BELLIGERENTS SHOULD SIT DOWN AND HAMMER OUT THE
DETAILS OF A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY OR S-A-D-C (EDS: SAH-DECK)
TO LEAD THE CONGO MEDIATING EFFORT.
BUT ANALYSTS SAY MR. CHILUBA'S EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT A CEASEFIRE
AND POLITICAL SETTLEMENT HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BECAUSE OF ANIMOSITY
FROM ANGOLA, ONE OF THE COUNTRIES BACKING CONGOLESE LEADER
LAURENT KABILA. ANGOLA HAS ACCUSED ZAMBIA OF PROVIDING SUPPORT
TO ANGOLA'S OWN UNITA REBELS.
FIGHTING IN CONGO-KINSHASA ERUPTED LAST AUGUST AND HAS INVOLVED
TROOPS FROM AT LEAST SIX COUNTRIES. SOUTH AFRICA FEARS THE
CONFLICT COULD SPREAD IF NEGOTIATIONS FAIL TO SECURE A PEACEFUL
SETTLEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
06-May-99 9:03 AM EDT (1303 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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