DATE=8/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S CONGO REACT (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265507
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States today (Tuesday) criticized
Congo's President Laurent Kabila after he walked out
of an African summit meeting aimed at reviving the
peace process in Congo. VOA Correspondent Breck Ardery
reports from the United Nations.
TEXT: American representative Nancy Soderberg told
the U-N Security Council the United States considers
Mr. Kabila's positions at the summit in Lusaka,
Zambia, unacceptable on two main issues.
///SODERBERG ACT///
The government of Congo must lend its full
support to the Lusaka process and desist from
its efforts to hinder the work of the former
President Masire and the implementation of the
national dialogue. It must provide the requisite
security guarantees, access and cooperation that
will enable the U-N to deploy its peacekeepers.
///END ACT///
Ms. Soderberg raised the Congo issue during a Security
Council meeting on another matter (Bosnia).
Congo President Kabila continues to reject former
Botswana leader Ketumile Masire as the facilitator of
a national dialogue of reconciliation in Congo. Mr.
Kabila says Mr. Masire is biased. The Congo President
is also refusing to facilitate the deployment of
United Nations peacekeepers until the three nations
that support rebel forces in his country - Burundi,
Rwanada and Uganda - all withdraw their troops from
Congo.
Five months ago the Security Council authorized a
preliminary contingent of ceasefire observers for
Congo, but it has yet to be deployed.
Some diplomats say they are worried that the failure
of the latest summit meeting on Congo could lead to an
escalation of fighting in that nation's multi-sided
conflict. (Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/KBK
15-Aug-2000 15:56 PM EDT (15-Aug-2000 1956 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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