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DATE=7/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251318
TITLE=CONGO TALKS (L)
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ZAMBIAN OFFICIALS ARE USING SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY TO RESTART 
TALKS AIMED AT ENDING THE 11-MONTH OLD CONFLICT IN 
CONGO-KINSHASA.  THE TALKS BROKE DOWN TUESDAY OVER DETAILS OF A 
DRAFT CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT.  BUT AS V-O-A'S ALISHA RYU REPORTS 
FROM NAIROBI, THE LATEST SETBACK IS EMERGING FROM WITHIN THE 
REBEL GROUPS THEMSELVES.
TEXT:  ZAMBIAN MEDIATORS ARE REPORTEDLY SHUTTLING BETWEEN 
REPRESENTATIVES OF WARRING PARTIES TO SETTLE A NEW THREAT TO THE 
PEACE PROCESS. 
THE MILITARY CHIEF OF THE MAIN REBEL GROUP -- THE RWANDA-BACKED 
"RALLY FOR CONGOLESE DEMOCRACY," OR "R-C-D" -- IS SAID TO BE 
THREATENING TO PULL OUT OF THE TALKS, IF A RIVAL CHIEFTAIN TOOK 
PART.  THE RIVAL IS FORMER R-C-D LEADER ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA.  
HE WAS FIRED AS HEAD OF THE R-C-D EARLIER THIS YEAR BY OTHER 
REBEL LEADERS.  PROTESTING MR. WAMBA'S PRESENCE, THE R-C-D HAS 
FAILED TO ATTEND THE TALKS FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS.  
OBSERVERS SAY A LASTING PEACE CANNOT BE REACHED WITHOUT THE 
COOPERATION OF THE R-C-D. 
ON WEDNESDAY, RWANDAN-BACKED FORCES CLAIMED FRESH GAINS IN THEIR 
DRIVE TO CAPTURE THE STRATEGIC SOUTHERN TOWN OF KABINDA AND ARE 
SAID TO BE ADVANCING TOWARD THE DIAMOND CENTER OF MBUJI-MAYI 
(PRONOUNCED MBOO-GEE'-MAI).  DIAMONDS ARE VITAL TO THE ECONOMY OF
PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA'S GOVERNMENT.  //OPT//  LAST WEEK, MR. 
KABILA'S MAIN ALLY IN THE WAR -- ZIMBABWE -- SENT THREE- THOUSAND
FRESH TROOPS TO HELP DEFEND MBUJI-MAYI. THE FIGHTING IN THE AREA 
IS SAID TO BE INTENSE WITH EACH SIDE COMING UNDER HEAVY ARTILLERY
FIRE. //END OPT//
PRESIDENT KABILA INSISTS ALL FOREIGN TROOPS MUST BE WITHDRAWN 
FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO BEFORE ANY MEANINGFUL 
TALKS CAN TAKE PLACE.   HE ALSO OBJECTS TO INCLUDING THE REBELS 
IN THE TALKS.
LEADERS IN RWANDA AND UGANDA -- WHOSE TROOPS ARE FIGHTING 
ALONGSIDE CONGOLESE REBELS -- SAY THEY ARE DEFENDING THEIR 
BORDERS AGAINST RWANDAN HUTU WHO TOOK PART IN THE 1994 GENOCIDE 
AGAINST RWANDAN TUTSI.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/AR/PCF/KL
01-Jul-99 1:14 PM EDT (1714 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.