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DR Congo

DRC: Peace talks facilitator arrives

NAIROBI, 13 January (IRIN) - The facilitator for the inter-Congolese dialogue, Ketumile Masire, arrived in the capital, Kinshasa, on Sunday to make preparations for the final session of national peace and reconciliation talks, his office reported.
Shortly after arriving, he told reporters that he would begin the visit by consulting with the parties to the talks to fix the date and venue of this final session. Masire said once agreement had been reached it would be for the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUC, and the all-inclusive government to ensure observance of its provisions.

Masire's visit comes at the invitation of President Joseph Kabila and follows the accord signed on 17 December 2002 in Pretoria, South Africa, by all parties to the dialogue.

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