DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-CONGO MISSION APPROVED (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259528
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council has
unanimously approved an international military
observer force to monitor the cease-fire in Congo-
Kinshasa. V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports
from the United Nations.
TEXT: Although some members had concerns that the size
of the proposed force is not large enough, the
resolution was passed by a 15-to-nothing vote. The
resolution, sponsored by the United States, would send
500 military observers to Congo, backed up by more
than five thousand troops.
The troops and observers will be deployed only if all
sides in the multi-sided conflict in Congo uphold the
cease-fire agreement reached in Lusaka, Zambia, last
year. That agreement has been widely violated and many
African nations have argued that greater U-N
involvement in Congo is essential.
The resolution on the military observers was in-line
with a recommendation from U-N Secretary-General Kofi
Annan. But several members of the Security Council
said the number of personnel authorized for the
observer mission is insufficient. However, like
Namibia's Ambassador Martin Andjaba, they went along
with the resolution.
/// ANDJABA ACT ///
Nevertheless, we will go along with the proposed
numbers with the hope that the Secretary-General
will advise the Council should additional
personnel be required. The deployment of the
five-thousand-537 personnel is only the second
phase in the series of deployment. It therefore
goes without saying, and it is only logical that
the Secretary-General will no doubt prepare for
the next phase.
/// end act ///
Phase one of the Congo operation involved a small
number of military liaison officers. Phase two is the
deployment of the military observers, and phase three
is envisioned as deployment of a full-scale
international peacekeeping force in Congo.
/// REST OPT ///
The American Ambassador [to the United Nations]
Richard Holbrooke said, however, that the outcome of
phase two will determine if the United States supports
a phase three.
/// HOLBROOKE ACT ///
The United States support for establishing the
phase two U-N observer mission at this time does
not constitute prior approval of any future
deployment. If the United Nations, after
developing plans for proceeding to the next
stage of peacekeeping as called for in this
resolution, recommends establishment of a larger
U-N peacekeeping mission, the United States will
consider the recommendation on its merits based
on the achievements and the situation in phase
two, and I want to stress that.
/// END ACT ///
The conflict in Congo pits the government of President
Laurent Kabila against rebel groups backed by the
governments of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. The
governments of Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe have been
actively supporting President Kabila.
U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright recently
characterized the Congo conflict as "Africa's first
world war."(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/JC/ENE/gm/africa
24-Feb-2000 14:27 PM EDT (24-Feb-2000 1927 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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