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Press Briefing

 

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

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The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

**Questions and Answers

Question: We've heard reports that President Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has now authorized the deployment of United Nations peacekeepers to Government-controlled areas. How will these reports be reflected in the review of what's going on in the region, particularly in light of the fact that other leaders in the region have been reported as seeking the suspension of the Lusaka Peace Accords?

Spokesman: Well, this is like the good news and bad news on the Democratic Republic of the Congo today. I don't think those two are necessarily contradictory. In the conversations that the Special Envoy, General Abubakar of Nigeria, had with President Kabila, there seems to have emerged a change of position by the Government, which was reported by the Special Representative Mr. Morjane today. He said that the Kabila Government was now prepared to allow the United Nations to deploy to Government-controlled areas.

Of course, that is just one of the issues that Mr. Abubakar was trying to clarify with the Congolese Government. Freedom of movement is a very important issue. And also the essential issue, which is the cessation of hostilities. Now that's where the comments by the President saying he wanted to renegotiate the Lusaka Accords come into play. So I think you'd have to say it's still a mixed picture. If indeed the President is prepared to allow the United Nations to deploy to Government-controlled areas, that's a step forward. The questioning of the Lusaka Accords is a step backward. How all this plays out in the Security Council we'll just have to see.

Question: Where does all this leave deployment in the region now?

Spokesman: I think it's too early for me to say. I'm not sure we've thoroughly digested this new information, or made any sort of policy decision on whether to go forward with this deployment or not. I'll have to get back to you.

Question: Can one assume then that this issue will have to wait until Mr. Abubakar returns to Headquarters and meets with the Secretary- General or some of the people in the Security Council?

Spokesman: That was the feeling on the thirty-eighth floor this morning -- that it would be better to wait until General Abubakar gets back and reports personally to the Secretary-General.

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