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Chiluba Says Rebels Will Attend Summit On Congo
Conflict

January 4, 1999
By Mildred Mulenga

Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) - The chief mediator in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia, said on Monday that he is confident a cease-fire accord would be signed by all parties to the conflict during a meeting scheduled to take place mid-January in Lusaka.

In an exclusive interview with PANA in the Zambian capital, Chiluba confirmed that the rebels fighting President Laurent- Desire Kabila would participate in the forthcoming summit which he hopes would be a success.

"The rebels will come for the talks. We would love that all parties feel they are obliged to observe the cease-fire," Chiluba said.

The participation of rebels of the Congolese Rally For Democracy in the peace talks has been a key obstacle in finding a solution to the to the conflict.

The Kabila government opposes their participation, saying he prefers to deal with Uganda and Rwanda who are backing the rebels.

However, Chiluba noted that parties to the crisis had now realised that the longer they continued to fight, the worse the situation would become and that only the implementation of a cease-fire would end the hostilities.

The Zambian leader chairs a Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional heads of state committee charged with coordinating peace efforts in the five-month old war.

The president indicated that he was still consulting with other leaders involved in the discussions to decide on the actual date for the Lusaka summit.

The summit has so far been postponed on three occasions due to "other commitments" by the leaders involved.

The last attempt was on 28 December. Chiluba hopes the summit will this time be able to take place between 12 and 16 January in Lusaka.

Copyright © 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Distributed via Africa News

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