DATE=8/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-CONGO ENVOY (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265633
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
INTRO: The United Nations has named the former
President of Nigeria, Abdulsalami Abubakar, as special
envoy to Congo-Kinshasa. VOA Correspondent Breck
Ardery reports General Abubakar will attempt to
convince the Congo government to cooperate with the
United Nations.
TEXT: In recent days there have been increasing
indications that Congo President Laurent Kabila may be
about to abandon the peace process. U-N Secretary-
General Kofi Annan is asking General Abubakar to
impress on President Kabila the importance of
observing the Lusaka cease-fire and peace process
agreement and to cooperate with the U-N observer
mission in Congo that is known as MONUC.
Mr. Annan's spokesman, Manoel de Almeida e Silva, told
reporters that the former Nigerian President is
expected to discuss several specific issues.
///Almeida e Silva act///
Those issues include a cessation of hostilities,
the granting of full freedom of movement to
MONUC and full participation in the inter-
Congolese dialogue and cooperation with the
facilitation process. The special envoy has also
been requested to take up the issue of an
apparent propaganda campaign that has been
conducted against MONUC and its staff.
///end act///
Members of the U-N Security Council welcomed the
appointment of General Abubakar and, in a formal
statement, Council President Agam Hasmy of Malaysia
said the Council is very concerned about the apparent
deterioration in Congo's peace process.
///Hasmy act///
Members (of the Council) express their grave
concern at the current situation and the lack of
progress in implementing provisions of the
Lusaka cease-fire agreement. The members of the
Council underscore their deep concern over the
deteriorating humanitarian situation and
condemned the continuing human rights abuses
throughout the country.
///end act///
Earlier this week, Congo President Kabila announced he
will not cooperate in the deployment of U-N
peacekeepers and rejected Ketumile Masire, the former
President of Botswana, as the facilitator of a
national dialogue of reconciliation in Congo.
Some diplomats fear President Kabila may be preparing
to abandon the peace process and resume the war
against rebel groups and the African nations that
support them. The appointment of General Abubakar as
U-N special envoy is seen as a crucial effort to
convince President Kabila to recommit his government
to the peace process in Congo.(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/PT
18-Aug-2000 15:54 PM EDT (18-Aug-2000 1954 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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