Congo Peace Talks Settle Most Problems in S. Africa

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 21, 2002

Congo Peace Talks Settle Most Problems in S. Africa

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo's peace talks have settled most of the problems, but some divisions remains in the power-sharing of important government agencies, the UN mediator said on Wednesday.

According to the South African Press Association, UN special envoy Moustapha Niasse told reporters that the negotiators has agreed on most of the issues, only divided on some most tricky issues.

"We have solved 85 percent of the issues before us, but I cannot specify which these are while negotiations are still in progress," Niasse said as representatives of the government, rebels, militias, opposition politicians and civil society continued their talks in Pretoria.

The UN special envoy outlined the major stumbling blocks as themake-up of the armed forces during a two-year transitional period ahead of elections, security arrangements for Kinshasa during thistime and the modalities of power sharing.

The two main rebel movements, the Congolese Liberation Movement(MLC) and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) are demanding "vertical power sharing" in the military, in the provinces, the intelligence and diplomatic services, the police, and state-owned companies, a concept rejected by the Kinshasa government.

"The government wants to agree now on sharing the executive, the National Assembly and the senate," Niasse said.

"The MLC and RCD want to agree here at least on the quotas for sharing the provincial administrations, the diplomatic facilities,the military, the police, the intelligence service and public enterprises."

"On the security of Kinshasa, the people coming from Goma (RCD)and Gbadolite (MLC) to form the transitional government want assurances that they and their families will be protected at all times."

Niasse said that he did not feel bound by a Nov. 23 deadline for an agreement set by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

"The first and most important thing is to end the war...everything springs from that."

"I do not feel committed at all by the deadline of Nov. 23 mentioned at the resumption of these talks. If we get a settlementby then, fine. If not, we will continue," he added.

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