[35] No Date Set For DRC Cease-fire

Text:

http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19990203_feat2.html

No Date Set For DRC Cease-fire

February 3, 1999
By Kelvin Shimo

Lusaka - No date has been set for the signing of a cease-fire between the warring parties in the Congo Democratic Republic (DCR), disclosed President Frederick Chiluba yesterday.

On arrival at Lusaka International Airport yesterday from his consultative talks with DCR President Laurent Kabila in Kinshasa, President Chiluba said the peace process in Congo won't be difficulty because all the parties involved in the conflict are longing for peace.

"I will not make the mistake of announcing a date for the meeting. But the cease -fire will be brought to effect soon because the people of Congo have expressed their willingness to have peace," he said.

President Chiluba, however, declined to say whether DCR President Kabila whom he had gone to consult on the SADC peace initiative is ready to meet rebels anywhere other than Kinshasa.

"I can't comment on behalf of President Kabila," President Chiluba said. "The fact that Kabila has allowed political activity is a sign of better things to come."

President Chiluba, who was evasive when asked when he last communicated with the DRC rebels, said he would make further consultations with South African President Nelson Mandela and other interested parties.

Copyright © 1999 Post of Zambia. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact Post of Zambia at the link above.


Prev | Next | Contents