(U.S. supports inter-Congolese dialogue)
State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip
Reeker on June 13 reiterated the United States' "full support for
the Inter-Congolese National Dialogue" to bring peace to the Democratic
Republic of Congo, and expressed the United States' deep concern over "efforts
of the Congolese government to obstruct the implementation of the Lusaka-sanctioned
Inter-Congolese Dialogue."
Following is the text of Reeker's prepared statement:
(begin text)
U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman
June 13, 2000
STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO UNITED STATES SUPPORTS INTER-CONGOLESE NATIONAL DIALOGUE
The United States reiterates its full support for the Inter-Congolese National Dialogue and calls on all parties to the Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement and the international community to support the work of the dialogue facilitator, former President Sir Ketumile Masire of Botswana.
The United States is deeply concerned by efforts of the Congolese government to obstruct the implementation of the Lusaka-sanctioned Inter-Congolese Dialogue. Last week the government boycotted the preparatory meeting in Cotonou, and prevented other Congolese participants from leaving Congo to attend the meeting. These actions were followed by calls for the removal of former Botswana President Masire as facilitator and by Government threats to withdraw from the process entirely. These actions are distinctly unhelpful and are clear violations of the commitments the Government made when it signed the Lusaka agreement.
The Lusaka Agreement provides the only viable means for peacefully resolving the Congolese conflict. A rejection of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, a critical element of the Lusaka Accord, will only prolong the war and the suffering of the Congolese people. We again call on all Congolese, including President Kabila, to lend their full support to the National Dialogue and the work of its facilitator, President Masire.
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)