PRESS BRIEFING BY UN/OAU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GREAT LAKES REGION
Press Briefing
PRESS BRIEFING BY UN/OAU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GREAT LAKES REGION
19970129
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
The Joint United Nations/Organization of African Unity (OAU) Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Mohamed Sahnoun, in a press briefing yesterday afternoon, 28 January, told correspondents that his first priority would be to reassess the situation in the region and to work with all the parties concerned to bring about a political dialogue. "I intend to talk with everyone", he said.
The Special Representative, who had briefed the Security Council before meeting correspondents, said he had told the Council that in eastern Zaire and Burundi the international community was facing conflicts which were difficult to define. A collective trauma was still gripping Rwanda two years after the massacre of over 600,000 people -- labelled "minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus". The conflicts in the Great Lakes region had caused hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons, a horrifying proliferation of small arms and hostilities among the leaders of the region. The prospects for peace were slim, he said, adding that the damage inflicted upon the environment was incalculable, and some of the scars would be almost impossible to heal in short and medium terms.
Mr. Sahnoun said that while CNN cameras were no longer focusing on the situation in the Great Lakes region, the tragedies continued. He had learned of serious incidents which were still occurring within the borders of the countries. Sometimes the casualties were reported much later and sometimes they were not reported at all. The massive return of the refugees to Rwanda from eastern Zaire and the United Republic of Tanzania, while a welcome development, could also constitute a time bomb. The tragedy could become overwhelming if the hopes for resettlement and reintegration were dashed. Therefore, Rwanda needed all the assistance it could get to help reintegrate the returnees into the social, economic and political fabric of the country.
Mr. Sahnoun said during his meeting with the Security Council, he had also underlined the humanitarian tragedy in eastern Zaire. Approximately 400,000 refugees were trapped by the fighting between the Zairian army and the rebel forces. He had pledged to do his utmost to help the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Sadako Ogata, and the humanitarian agencies in their Herculean effort to try to open up corridors for feeding and repatriating those refugees.
Political dialogue must be fostered inside the countries of the region as well as among them, he continued. Some of the steps needed to be taken included the following: establishing communication; overcoming a number of taboos; initiating a culture of forgiveness; rehabilitating the role of
actors, such as those in the civil society; and mobilizing respected voices inside and outside the region. But in order to bring about that dialogue, a number of confidence-building measures must be developed, and that meant mobilizing resources. In his appeal to the Security Council to make such resources available, he had advocated a "mini-Marshall Plan" for the region. The Great Lakes was one of the most precarious and sensitive regions in the world. It had the highest population density in Africa, and with the degradation of the environment and scarcity of resources, the situation was bound to become even more tragic if the needs of the population were not addressed.
The Special Representative said he was in the process of holding a series of consultations at the United Nations. Next week, after meeting with Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko in France and speaking with the Secretary- General of the OAU in Addis Ababa, he said he intended to visit the Great Lakes region. It was extremely important for the United Nations and the OAU to cooperate closely on that issue, and the responsibility of Africans to deal with African issues should be underlined.
Asked if there was any worry regarding the Government of Zaire's recent efforts to reassert its right to restore its territorial integrity, Mr. Sahnoun said it was important to recognize Zaire's perception that its territorial integrity and sovereignty were being threatened, and that it was taking measures to counteract those threats. Every effort would be made to persuade all the concerned parties to consider first a peaceful, political solution. He mentioned that he would also travel to Kinshasa to discuss those issues with the Zairian Government.
Were Security Council members willing to choose a coherent political line to deal with the conflict in the Great Lakes region? a correspondent asked. Mr. Sahnoun said that his reading of the sentiments of Council members was that the principle of Zaire's territorial integrity must be respected, as must be the principle of sovereignty. Both the OAU and the United Nations had always insisted on the inviolability of those principles.
In response to a question on what specific confidence-building measures would be used, the Special Representative said they would most likely involve social and economic incentives. Such measures would also involve guarantees for those parties that might feel threatened by the prospect of a peaceful solution. However, he said he could not go into detail until he heard the views of the concerned parties.
Asked if he would revive discussion of a multinational force to open corridors in the region, Mr. Sahnoun said the subject had not been discussed in the Security Council, and it was not part of his mandate. But if the situation developed and the question arose, it would be discussed.
Sahnoun Briefing - 3 - 29 January 1997
In response to a question on the current status of military conflict in the Great Lakes region, Mr. Sahnoun said the situation was being monitored and he was in contact with the parties concerned, including the Government of Zaire. He had tried to convey the message that a military solution might be efficient but it could leave deep and terrible scars. Such a solution should be avoided at all costs, and a peaceful, political solution should be pursued.
Asked if he would meet with the rebel leaders and tribal chiefs, the Special Representative stressed that he would talk to everyone. "We should be conscious of the fact that people who follow the leadership of individuals follow it because they have no alternatives", he added.
The same correspondent asked how much of the events in Zaire was actually a part of a proxy war between larger outside Powers? Mr. Sahnoun said he would like to believe that it was an endogenous question, and that it was a problem which was, unfortunately, the result of bad governance, degradation of the environment and other factors. Foreign interference always existed in one way or another, but not necessarily as a policy.
Asked what his role and mission would be in Burundi, Mr. Sahnoun said he believed that Burundi was extremely important. He had been helping former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere with his mediation efforts, and would continue to liaise with him as well as continue his direct contacts with all parties concerned in Burundi. Seeking a political solution in that country was a priority and within the mandate that had been given to him by the Secretary-General.
Had there been any discussion in the Security Council regarding the electoral process in Zaire? a correspondent asked. Mr. Sahnoun said a number of members had stressed the importance of the electoral process in Zaire, and he had discussed the issue with the Secretary-General. Steps would be taken to see how the issue could be followed up.
Asked if he would meet with the exiled former government of Rwanda, Mr. Sahnoun said he would not rule out any contact whatsoever if it was in the interest of seeking a peaceful, political solution.
Given his experiences in Somalia, had he asked for certain conditions to be included in his mandate? a correspondent asked. Mr. Sahnoun said any reference he had made to past experiences was to underline the need for the mission in the Great Lakes to have all the necessary resources so it could be successful.
Asked if he felt vindicated by being back in Africa after experiencing personal conflict with former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Mr. Sahnoun said he did not hold a personal grudge. He and the former Secretary- General had both carried out their duties. Differences had occurred; it was human nature.
Sahnoun Briefing - 4 - 29 January 1997
In response to a question as to whether the "mini-Marshall Plan" he had mentioned would be carried out in the context of the proposed international conference on the Great Lakes region, Mr. Sahnoun said it would be part of a second-phase. First, a political solution must be found. However, the people of the Great Lakes region needed to know that if favourable political conditions were created, the international community would be willing to help them resolve the deep economic, social and environmental problems in that region.
Asked if members of the Security Council had commented on his "mini- Marshall Plan" idea for the Great Lakes region, Mr. Sahnoun said there had been a positive reaction. But the term "mini-Marshall Plan" was meant to be symbolic, and there was no comparison with the Marshall Plan, as such. He had wanted to stress the region's importance and that problem should be perceived as a regional problem. There was a need for a comprehensive approach, with economic and social initiatives, to help the population of the region cope with the consequences of the war.
How would you measure President Mobutu's power and influence on the situation in the Great Lakes region? a correspondent asked. Mr. Sahnoun said Mr. Mobutu was still President of Zaire, and he had to be accepted and dealt with as such. It was important that the institutions were respected, despite any deficiencies or limitations one might see in them. He would meet with Mr. Mobutu first because he was in France, but he would also meet with Prime Minister Kengo wa Dondo in Kinshasa. Mr. Sahnoun said that it was important for him to speak with the constitutional heads of the countries, civil society and opposition leaders.
Asked if he believed that the leaders of the region would now accept President Pierre Buyoya of Burundi, Mr. Sahnoun said the leaders of the region had asked Mr. Buyoya to take a number of steps to encourage the democratic process in his country. Mr. Buyoya needed to respond and take those steps. The other leaders had already declared that they would gradually lift the sanctions against Burundi if they saw progress towards democratization. He would be looking into that situation as it progressed.
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