UNION
POUR LA DÉMOCRATIE
ET LE PROGRÈS SOCIAL

Press statement of the Lusaka Conference

At the invitation of President Frederick J.T. Chiluba of the Republic of Zambia, the Regional meeting of Foreign Affairs and Defence on the situation in the DRC took place in Lusaka, Zambia from 26 to 27 October 1998. The meeting which was chaired by Hon. E.S. Silwamba, MP, Minister for Presidential Affairs of Zambia, was attended by Ministers from Angola, DRC, Burundi, Uganda, Gabon, Kenya, Tanzania, Lybia, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Also in attendance were the representatives of the UN and SADC.

The opening session of the meeting was addressed by the President of Zambia, The Secretary-General of the OAU, un representative of the Secretary-General of the UN and the Executive Secretary of SADC.

The meeting focused on issues relating to the cessation of the hostilities in the DRC and the establishment of a Ceasefire Agreement, the mechanisms for the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement, the withdrawal of foreign troops, addressing the security concerns of the DRC and the neighboring countries as well as other follow-up mechanisms for facilitating the peace process in the DRC.

At the end of a comprehensive review of all these issues, the meeting:

* Adopted in principle a draft Ceasefire Agreement and also a Mechanism for implementing and monitoring a Ceasefire Agreement pending further consultations with all concerned. In this regard, there was an acknowledgement by Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Uganda of the presence of their troops in the DRC. Rwanda did not acknowledge the presence of its troops in the DRC.

* Established a Mechanism for the involvement of the rebels in working out the modalities for the implemention of the ceasefire.In this regard, proximity talks with the rebels were to be facilitated by the following:- Zambia( Chairman of the meeting); - the OAU; The UN; -the SADC; -Mozambique; - South Africa; - Tanzania. With the framework of the established Mechanism, consultations were undertaken with the rebels in Lusaka on 26 and 27 October 1998.

* With regard to the security concerns of the DRC and the neighboring countries, the following countries - Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda explained in detail, their security concerns. The meeting resolved to address these concerns through a Mechanism involving military experts to be established in the future.

* Expressed its gratitude to the Government and the people of Zambia for the warm reception and hospitality extended to all participants in the meeting.

Lusaka-Zambia 27th october 1998