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Source App: [Kabila finally backs down - Netscape]
Kabila finally backs down
March 24, 1999
By Reuben Phiri
Lusaka - Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Laurent Kabila has finally
agreed to meet rebel forces to discuss a ceasefire.
President Frederick Chiluba, on arrival at Lusaka International Airport from a oneday visit to the DRC to confer on the ongoing conflict, disclosed that President Kabila had changed his position on meeting Congolese rebels.
"I am happy I have managed to secure concurrence from President Kabila to involve the rebels directly at official level," President Chiluba said.
"That will open the way for us to go further."
Initiatives for a ceasefire have in the past flopped because of President Kabila's insistence that he was not prepared to meet face to face with leaders of the rebel forces led by Wamba Dia Wamba.
President Chiluba said after yesterday's deliberations, a meeting had been set at which rebels will sit at official level together with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and United Nations representatives, including the DRC government officials to discuss modalities of the ceasefire.
"We had been engaging in a proximity arrangement from the beginning but I am happy this will accelerate the pace for the ceasefire," he said.
President Chiluba, briefing the press in DRC, disclosed that President Kabila has commenced initiatives to help resolve the ongoing feud between Zambia and Angola.
He said President Kabila had already put "certain measures in place" to ensure that Zambia and Angola settled the accusations in a diplomatic way".
"He's already done something and I'm sure things will be clear," President Chiluba said.
He, however, reiterated Zambia's denial of Angola's accusations that it was supporting Jonas Savimbi's rebel UNITA movement.
"We are a product of a democratic process and we can't be expected to engage in such things as we're being accused," he said. "We believe in true democracy and everyone should look at us that way. We are a peaceful, morally upright society and our conscience cannot allow us to engage in the sort of deeds we are being accused of having done."
President Chiluba said those who buy and sell arms or engage in gunrunning have a lot of money and he did not think Zambia had such people.
"Savimbi has diamonds and has big money and I don't think he wants to deal with people from Zambia," President Chiluba said.
He said the gunrunning allegations have not affected Zambia in any way because they have never been substantiated.
"We don't harbour any ill feelings towards Angola and we would wish our friends enjoyed peace after all these years of war," said Chiluba.
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