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http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19990115_feat4.html
I'll Never Talk To Rebels
January 15, 1999
By Dickson Jere
Lusaka - Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Laurent Kabila has no
interest in the Lusaka peace talks, disclosed diplomatic sources yesterday.
President Kabila yesterday told journalists in Lubumbashi that he would never meet rebels, they are puppets of the invaders of his country. He warned that the rebels were hated and if they went to Kinshasa people would kill them.
"I will never meet the rebels. Never," vowed President Kabila.
" Have you seen any rebels here? They are puppets. If they come here, they will be killed. People don't want them here."
According to the diplomatic sources, President Kabila has not even sent his foreign affairs and defence officials to attend the Lusaka meeting.
"These talks will not succeed because the DRC has no interest. Kabila has snubbed these talks by not sending any official to the ministers, meeting," a diplomatic source said yesterday.
"This prompted Chiluba to go and persuade Kabila to send his people to the meeting. Kabila is insisting that the meeting with rebels should be held in Kinshasa."
But President Frederick Chiluba yesterday said he was invited to DRC by President Kabila who had telephoned him early in the morning. When asked whether Kabila would attend the Lusaka peace talks, President Chiluba could not commit himself, he said the heads of states would be invited after the ministers agreed on the draft cease-fire document.
"I was very ambitious, I must admit. I thought the draft document would be ready within two days," President Chiluba said.
On his arrival from DRC at Lusaka International Airport late yesterday afternoon, President Chiluba said he had very successful talks with President Kabila and he was happy with the whole process. When asked whether the rebels would be allowed to attend the ministers meeting which is expected to be officially opened today, President Chiluba said they would be allowed to participate in the formulation of the draft ceasefire document.
"They are supposed to be here. We were expecting them yesterday.If they are not in, they should be coming tomorrow," President Chiluba said.
President Chiluba, briefing the press at Lusaka International Airport yesterday before departure for DRC, said the rebels would not attend the heads of states summit scheduled for next week in Lusaka but would be consulted thoroughly during the peace talks.
"I am not going to meet the rebels today," President Chiluba said when asked whether he would meet the rebels after talking to President Kabila. On return from Lubumbashi in the afternoon, President Chiluba's position on the rebels was rather unclear.
When asked again whether the rebels would attend the heads of state summit, President Chiluba could not give a categorical answer. "I cannot answer that. It's quite tricky. The meeting will have to discuss that," President Chiluba said.
But President Kabila said he could only meet the rebels in Kinshasa to discuss matters regarding good governance and would never meet them elsewhere apart from Kinshasa. On the postponement of the summit to next week, President Chiluba said they had to allow the defence and foreign affairs ministers who were currently meeting in Zambia to have more time for consultations.
"We want them to work up to Sunday," President Chiluba said.
He denied reports that President Kabila had refused to attend the Lusaka talks. He said President Kabila phoned him yesterday morning to discuss the same matter.
"I am going to meet him in Lubumbashi and consult him," President Chiluba said.
President Kabila was quoted in the press saying he could only meet the rebels in his capital, Kinshasa.
President Chiluba accompanied by home affairs minister Katele Kalumba, foreign affairs minister Keli Walubita and his public relations and press assistant Richard Sakala was seen off at Lusaka International Airport by vice-president Christon Tembo, minister without portfolio Michael Sata, information and broadcasting services deputy minister Fidelis Mando, Lusaka Province deputy minister Sonny Mulenga, environment deputy minister Gibson Nkausu and defence chiefs.
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