DATE=7/26/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SAF CONGO (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252163
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Congo-Kinshasa President Laurent Kabila is in
Pretoria for talks with South African President, Thabo
Mbeki. V-O-A' Delia Robertson reports from our
Johannesburg Bureau that the leaders talked about the
peace process in Congo-Kinshasa's civil war.
TEXT: Speaking before the talks, South African
President Thabo Mbeki said he and President Laurent
Kabila would discuss implementation of the cease fire
agreement signed on July 10th in Lusaka, Zambia. Mr.
Mbeki said they would also talk about rebuilding
Congo-Kinshasa once the civil war has ended.
Mr. Mbeki said it is important that rebel groups in
Congo-Kinshasa also sign the ceasefire agreement. The
rebel groups did not sign because they could not
agree on who would sign on their behalf. The
agreement was signed by Mr. Kabila on behalf of his
government, as well as the leaders of other African
countries involved on different sides in the war.
The South African Government had earlier said Mr.
Kabila planned only a private visit, during which a
government spokesman said Mr. Kabila would pay a
courtesy call on the South African President.
A senior government official told V-O-A that the South
African Government was taken aback (surprised) when
Mr. Kabila arrived with a large delegation, including
several senior ministers, and announced to the waiting
press that he had come to South Africa on a working
visit.
Mr. Mbeki said South Africa would assist the people of
Congo-Kinshasa to rebuild their country once they
achieve peace. In particular, it is hoped that South
Africa can assist with rebuilding the country's
infrastructure as well with providing technical
assistance to re-establish a banking system in Congo-
Kinshasa.
Mr Mbeki said earlier that South Africa would assist
if an international peacekeeping mission is launched
in Congo-Kinshasa. But local analysts say Mr. Mbeki
will want to be sure that South African soldiers and
support personnel do not get drawn into ongoing
conflicts between various factions in the country.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAR/GE/KL
26-Jul-1999 13:35 PM LOC (26-Jul-1999 1735 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
