PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, speaking to correspondents at a United Nations press conference this afternoon, said that while peace had not been fully achieved in his country, the peace process was under way.  Since he last talked with correspondents in February of this year, there had been an evolution.  While the aggressors were still there, and half of the country was still occupied, his Government was determined to see the peace process through to the end.

He went on to say that that process was subdivided into the political aspects and the military aspects of the conflict.  The military aspects concerned the withdrawal of foreign forces according to United Nations resolutions.  While that was in now in progress, it was taking too long.  The political aspects dealt mainly with the inter-Congolese dialogue.  Although the first contacts had been made in March, there had been a pre-dialogue in August.  There was supposed to be a dialogue in Addis Ababa in October, which did not take place because of a number of contradictions.  Currently, the relevant parties were supposed to meet in South Africa to continue the dialogue.  In the meantime, the Facilitator was taking the opportunity to consult with all the parties concerned in order to make the stage of the dialogue successful.

He noted that when he had been here in February a number of things had not yet taken place.  Half of the United Nations forces had been deployed.  The Security Council had decided to deploy phase III of MONUC, and that was under way.  He expected 2002 to be a year of peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  He stated that if peace was only dependent on the Government, they would have found peace sooner, and would be talking as a unified and strong country.

Now that the United Nations was to deploy phase III of MONUC into the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the violence was increasing, a correspondent said.  Why should the Mission deploy in an area that was becoming more violent? he asked.

The aggressor forces in that area wanted a situation where there was no resistance to their occupation, Mr. Kabila said.  If the pressure from the international community and the United Nations was more vigorous, the occupation would end.  The aggressors might have stepped up the operations to make it difficult for the United Nations to deploy.  Everything that was going on in the east should be microscopically examined, and the United Nations should be given a chance to carry out its duties.

With regard to the inter-Congolese dialogue, what were the contradictions he had been referring to? a correspondent asked.

Mr. Kabila said the meeting scheduled for 15 October had been described as a technical meeting to discuss the technical difficulties that had existed before the talks began.  One question concerned who was to participate.  The first meeting in Addis Ababa had not been inclusive.  Instead of 320 representatives as planned, there had only been 70 or 80.  Moreover, there had not been enough money for the dialogue to continue for a month.  It should be remembered that when

talking about the terms of the dialogue, one was speaking about the future of

50 million people.  One could not play games with that.  It was not just a matter of patching up things.  The plans for the dialogue must be systematic, well planned and well executed.  He noted that in the first meeting, the churches, and a number of political parties and opposition groups had been left out.  Some of the political parties did not want others to be included.  Some rebel groups did not want other armed groups to be included.  To have a comprehensive solution, there needed to be a comprehensive understanding, and everyone needed to be there.

What had been the subject of his talk with United States President Bush? he was asked.  How would the Democratic Republic of the Congo participate in the anti-terrorist coalition launched by the United States?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo would participate in the counter-terrorist coalition.  In his meeting with President Bush, they had discussed the war against terrorism and the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  President Bush had promised that the Congo would have its territory restored and that it would have peace.

Given the importance of the inter-Congolese dialogue, how optimistic was he about bringing all the parties together to achieve its goals? a correspondent asked.

The majority of the people were tired of the war, he asserted.  The population of the Great Lakes Region in general, and the people of the Congo in particular, wanted to see an end to the war.  For the meeting in South Africa to be successful, the most important task of the Facilitator would be to consult with all the relevant parties.  If the Facilitator called for another meeting under the same conditions that existed in Addis Ababa, it would have only measured success.  The questions of representation -- who should be there and in what capacity -- and that of available funds must be resolved, he said.

A correspondent asked if the international community had the will to resolve the crisis.  Mr. Kabila replied that the will was there.  He added that the people of the Congo needed to understand that the time had come to put an end to the war;  they needed to do a great deal themselves to resolve the situation; and they needed the support of the international community.

What would his attitude be after the inter-Congolese dialogue?  Did he think he should still be president? a correspondent asked.  If the dialogue failed, was he not afraid that he would be playing into the hands of those who wanted to divide the Congo?

According to the proverb, "anyone who wants peace prepares for war" President Kabila said.  He was in favour of peace and would continue to work for peace.  The Congolese people would decide whom they wanted to be President but they had to be given a chance to decide.

What do you want me to do in that dialogue? he asked.  The rebels said that everything should be called into question.  Whether the rebels were from Rwanda, Uganda, or Burundi -- they should not be in his country. The Congolese people would never accept them.  Congo was a sovereign country.

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