SOUTH AFRICA: ZAIRIAN REBEL LEADER LAURENT KABILA VISIT

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  • Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
  • (26 Feb 1997) English/Nat
    Zairian rebel leader Laurent Kabila said Wednesday that he was hopeful direct negotiations for a cease-fire in Zaire would start soon.
    Speaking to journalists after meeting South African President Nelson Mandela, Kabila said any chance for a cease-fire depended on setting up talks with Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko's government.
    Their meeting came as Honore Ngbanda, an envoy of Mobutu is in South Africa, where U-S-led talks continue on halting fighting in Zaire.
    American officials say that while face-to-face peace talks in South Africa are unlikely, the presence of Kabila and Ngbanda could bring progress towards setting up the first direct meeting between the warring sides.
    The meeting between President Mandela and Laurent Kabila took place amid great security at Mandela's residence in Johannesburg Wednesday evening.
    The Zairian rebel leader had flown secretly to a small, rural airport north of Johannesburg on Tuesday to avoid detection.
    The two men talked for about an hour.
    When they emerged, the South African leader introduced his guest to the assembled media and invited questions.
    SOUNDBITE: (English)
    "I have with me General Laurent Desire Kabila, who is leading the well known forces in the eastern part of Zaire. He came down here to brief me about the situation but I would like to leave the matter to him and only to say we are discussing very sensitive matters where confidentiality is absolutely necessary."
    SUPER CAPTION: Nelson Mandela, South African President
    SOUNDBITE: (English)
    "I was invited here by the president to brief him on the real situation going on in eastern and southern Zaire, I am very glad with the advice he gave me. And we must maybe assume that peace can be found here with the regime of Mister Mobutu. So let's hope that the negotiation will start very soon."
    SUPER CAPTION: Laurent Kabila, Zairian rebel leader
    When asked if a cease-fire was imminent, Kabila said it was up to the other side.
    SOUNDBITE: (English)
    "No cease-fire - we are close to negotiation. We haven't had discussion with them so that we come to a cease-fire or other position."
    Q: "How hopeful are you that there will be direct talks?"
    A: "For me it is a matter, for us we are ready to have direct negotiations with them but we haven't yet discussed it with the others what did they decide, whether they decided to come to direct negotiations. But it is a matter."
    SUPER CAPTION: Laurent Kabila, Zairian rebel leader
    No face-to-face meeting has occurred so far between the warring Zairian factions.
    But the presence of Kabila and Ngbanda, Mobutu's security adviser, in South Africa is seen as the strongest signal so far that peace talks could be launched soon.
    The Kabila-led rebels took up arms in September after the government tried to expel ethnic Tutsis from eastern Zaire.
    Their rebellion is aimed at toppling Mobutu, whose 31-year dictatorship has left mineral-rich Zaire among the world's poorest countries.
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