DATE=6/27/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251160
TITLE=ZAMBIA/TALKS (L)
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CONGOLESE PEACE TALKS TOOK AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD
(SUNDAY) AS NEGOTIATORS AGREED ON A DRAFT CEASE-FIRE ACCORD. THE
DRAFT IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY REGIONAL FOREIGN AND DEFENSE
MINISTERS, WHOSE APPROVAL IS NECESSARY BEFORE THE CEASE-FIRE CAN
BE SIGNED BY THE HEADS OF STATE INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT.
CORRESPONDENT JOHN PITMAN HAS DETAILS FROM THE ZAMBIAN CAPITAL,
LUSAKA, WHERE THE TALKS ARE BEING HELD.
TEXT: THE END OF THE PRELIMINARY ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS WAS
ANNOUNCED (SUNDAY) BY ZAMBIA'S MINISTER OF PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS,
ERIC SILWAMBA. HE SAID THE DRAFT CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT HAD BEEN
GIVEN TO REGIONAL FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS FOR FINAL
CONSULTATIONS.
MINISTERIAL MEETINGS WERE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY,
RAISING HOPES A FORMAL SIGNING CEREMONY COULD COME AS EARLY AS
TUESDAY. A COPY OF THE DRAFT CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT OBTAINED BY
V-O-A LAYS OUT A FRAMEWORK FOR ENDING THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY
CONFLICT IN CONGO AND BEGINNING A FORMAL PROCESS OF DOMESTIC
POLITICAL RECONCILIATION.
ON THE MILITARY FRONT, THE DRAFT AGREEMENT CALLS FOR THE
CEASE-FIRE TO GO EFFECT WITHIN 24-HOURS OF ITS SIGNING BY THE
HEADS OF STATE. THE DRAFT DEFINES THE CEASE-FIRE AS AN END TO
ALL ATTACKS ON LAND, SEA AND AIR, AS WELL AS ACTS OF SABOTAGE AND
HOSTILE PROPAGANDA. VIOLATIONS WOULD INCLUDE ANY ATTEMPTS TO
OCCUPY NEW POSITIONS, ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIAN
POPULATIONS, AND THE DELIVERY OF NEW REINFORCEMENTS, WEAPONS OR
AMMUNITION.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, THE WARRING SIDES WOULD
AGREE TO FREEZE THEIR BATTLEFIELD POSITIONS, BUT MAKE A LIMITED
PULL-BACK FROM THE FRONT LINES. THEY WOULD ALSO AGREE TO OPEN
HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS TO AID GROUPS AND ALLOW THE INTERNATIONAL
RED CROSS TO ASSIST IN THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS OF WAR.
ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAD BEEN THE
FATE OF FOREIGN TROOPS IN CONGO. UNDER THE DRAFT AGREEMENT,
FOREIGN TROOPS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE CONGO UNTIL AFTER
THE DEPLOYMENT OF INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS.
WHILE THE DRAFT AGREEMENT DOES NOT SET A TIMETABLE FOR THE
WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN TROOPS, IT ASKS THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE
ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY TO PROVIDE MONITORS TO VERIFY THE
CEASE-FIRE UNTIL THE PEACEKEEPERS CAN BE DEPLOYED.
THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ALSO CALLS FOR THE WARRING PARTIES TO TAKE
STEPS TO IMPROVE SECURITY ALONG CONGO'S EASTERN BORDER, INCLUDING
THE CREATION OF A MECHANISM FOR DISARMING MILITIAS AND OTHER
ARMED GROUPS OPERATING IN EASTERN CONGO.
ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, THE DRAFT AGREEMENT SAYS THE CEASE-FIRE
SHOULD LEAD TO THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF, WHAT IT CALLS -- STATE
ADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT THE CONGO. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHAT
STATE ADMINISTRATION WOULD MEAN IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT THE
AGREEMENT WOULD ALSO BIND THE KINSHASA GOVERNMENT TO BEGIN A
DIALOGUE WITH THE ARMED REBELLION AND THE UNARMED POLITICAL
OPPOSITION ON THE COUNTRY'S LONG-TERM POLITICAL CRISIS.
THIS NATIONAL DEBATE WOULD BE MEDIATED BY A NEUTRAL FACILITATOR,
WHO WOULD BE SELECTED BY ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT SAID (SUNDAY) THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WAS
BEING CIRCULATED TO THE MINISTERIAL DELEGATIONS, MOST OF WHICH
HAVE ARRIVED IN LUSAKA. SOURCES SAY THERE IS WIDESPREAD
AGREEMENT ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE DRAFT CEASE-FIRE DOCUMENT,
BUT THE MINISTERS ARE NONETHELESS EXPECTED TO DO WHAT ONE
OFFICIAL CALLED -- SOME FINE TUNING -- WHEN THEY MEET FORMALLY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JP/ALW/RAE
27-Jun-99 11:12 AM EDT (1512 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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