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Draft Timetable Agreed On
February 8, 1999
By Christof Maletsky
Windhoek - The committee working on the implementation of a ceasefire agreement in the Democratic Republic of Congo has adopted a draft document, including a draft timetable, despite a walk-out by delegates from Rwanda and Uganda at a meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, last week.
Namibia's Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Friday that the committee had no mandate to change decisions taken by Heads of State at a January 18 summit in Windhoek and had so proceeded with the meeting.
Rwanda and Uganda's delegations walked out of the meeting insisting that the DRC rebels should participate. The involvement of the rebels was rejected because in terms of the existing agreement Uganda and Rwanda are representing the rebels at the peace talks.
The Committee on the Implementation of the Ceasefire agreement in the DRC met in Lusaka from February 2-5 under the chairmanship of Zambia. It was established by the regional Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence at their second Lusaka meeting held from January 14-16.
The committee comprises Zambia (chair), all belligerents, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the United Nations (UN) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Last week's meeting was attended by representatives of Zambia (chairman), Angola, the DRC, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the OAU, the United Nations and SADC.
At the end of its meeting, the Committee adopted a draft document on Implementation of the Ceasefire in the DRC, including the draft Calendar of the Implementation of the Ceasefire agreement, the Defence statement said. The Committee will submit its report to the regional Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence.
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