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DATE=4/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-CONGO (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260904
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Congo-Kinshasa's ambassador to the United 
Nations has called for the immediate deployment of U-N 
military observers to his country. But V-O-A 
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United 
Nations that the Security Council wants to wait until 
flare-ups in fighting are under control. 
TEXT:  Ambassador Andre Kapanga says the fighting in 
parts of Congo in violation of last year's cease-fire 
agreement is no excuse to delay the deployment of U-N 
military observers.
In February the U-N Security Council authorized the 
deployment to Congo of 500 military observers backed 
by more than five-thousand support troops. But U-N 
officials have recently warned that the troops will 
not be sent until all sides in Congo's multi-sided 
conflict stop fighting.
There are conflicting claims about who is responsible 
for the renewed fighting. Mr. Kapanga says it is 
largely the fault of forces from Rwanda and Uganda, 
and that Congo government troops are acting only in 
self-defense. Rwanda and Uganda say their forces are 
only acting in self-defense.
Congo's ambassador says the best way to find the truth 
is to send the U-N observers.
            /// KAPANGA ACT ///
      We strongly believe that the Secretary-General 
      should have already made a decision to send U-N 
      observers to the region, or at least to areas 
      where no combat is taking place. The observers' 
      presence in the field would allow the (Security) 
      Council to have a clear idea as to who is to be 
      blamed (for the fighting), and that would 
      accelerate the peace process.
            /// END ACT ///
A few hours before Mr. Kapanga met with reporters, U-N 
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said if those involved in 
the Congo conflict continue to violate the cease-fire, 
the United Nations is not to blame for the absence of 
U-N observers.  Last week, the U-N Security Council 
warned that the military observers will not be sent to 
Congo until blatant cease-fire violations have ended.
However, Mr. Kapanga argues that U-N troops have been 
sent to other parts of the world before fighting had 
totally ceased, and that Congo should not be an 
exception. (Signed)
NEB/BA/LSF/TVM/gm
03-Apr-2000 17:11 PM EDT (03-Apr-2000 2111 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.