DATE=6/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251007
TITLE=ZIMBABWE / CONGO (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAWRENCE BARTLETT
DATELINE=HARARE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TALKS AIMED AT ENDING THE WAR IN CONGO-KINSHASA ARE
SCHEDULED IN THE ZAMBIAN CAPITAL, LUSAKA, ON SATURDAY. BUT AS
LAWRENCE BARTLETT REPORTS FROM HARARE, THE SUMMIT IS BEING VIEWED
WITH SUSPICION BY SOME OF THE NATIONS INVOLVED.
TEXT: CONGO-KINSHASA'S PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA HAS SPENT TWO
DAYS IN HARARE, HOLDING A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH ZIMBABWE'S
PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE, WHO HAS SENT THOUSANDS OF TROOPS TO
SUPPORT MR. KABILA AGAINST A REBELLION.
MR. MUGABE TOLD REPORTERS AFTERWARDS THAT THE SUMMIT DEPENDS ON A
PRELIMINARY MEETING OF MINISTERS PRODUCING AN ACCEPTABLE
CEASEFIRE DOCUMENT, ADDING THAT UNTIL THEN, THE WAR WOULD GO ON.
/// MUGABE ACT ///
THE WAR CONTINUES, AND FOR US, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS THAT WE STRENGTHEN OUR DEFENSE FORCES, STRENGTHEN OUR
OWN LINES OF RESISTANCE, AND PREVENT MORE GROUND BEING
TAKEN AND OCCUPIED BY THE INVADING FORCES.
/// END ACT ///
MR. MUGABE MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE AND MR. KABILA REMAIN SUSPICIOUS
OF THE INTENTIONS OF RWANDA AND UGANDA, WHICH SUPPORT THE REBELS
TRYING TO TOPPLE THE KINSHASA GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID THEY WANTED TO BE CERTAIN THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING
DECEIVED AND THAT THE REBELS WILL NOT USE THE COVER OF
CEASEFIRE TALKS TO GAIN MORE TERRITORY.
A MEETING OF OFFICIALS MEANT TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE MINISTERIAL
TALKS REFERRED TO BY MR. MUGABE WAS TO BEGIN IN LUSAKA ON
MONDAY, BUT HAD STILL NOT STARTED BY LATE WEDNESDAY.
THE LUSAKA PEACE SUMMIT WAS FIRST PLANNED FOR EARLY DECEMBER LAST
YEAR AND HAS BEEN POSTPONED SEVERAL TIMES. OBSERVERS SUGGEST
THAT MR. MUGABE'S COMMENTS, AND THE DELAY IN THE MEETING OF
OFFICIALS, INDICATE THAT IT MAY AGAIN FAIL TO TAKE PLACE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LB/JWH/GM
23-Jun-99 1:58 PM EDT (1758 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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