South Africa's neutrality in finding solutions to the current crisis in the Democtratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains unquestioned, Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo said in Pretoria today.
Responding to statements made by the DRC Foreign Minister, Mr Jean-Charles Okoto Lolakombe, in a separate press confrence yesterday that South Africa was siding with the DRC rebel movement, Minister Nzo dismissed these allegations as untrue and emphasised that South Africa was committed to ensuring that the interests of all the Congolese people were promoted.
The fact that South Africa had held discussions with the rebel movement was not only done in an effort to talk to all parties to the conflict but more particularly because it followed on from the Lusaka meeting of 27 October 1998 when South Africa had been mandated, together with Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity and SADC, to engage the rebels in proximity talks.
"While we accept that there is an external dimension to the problem we nevertheless firmly believe that the rebels are a factor in the political dynamics of the DRC and unless this fact is accepted there will be no progress in resolving the current crisis", Minister Nzo said. It was South Africa's contention that all the political persuasions in the country had to be accommodated if a sustainable solution was to be found. In fact, South Africa's position had not changed since it had facilitated the negotiations between President Kabila and the late President Mobotu when it urged both parties to broaden the political base in the country. Furthermore, South Africa's position has enjoyed widespread support from the international community.
In reaction to allegations that South Africa was harbouring rebels, Minister Nzo responded by saying that South Africa was a constitutional democracy which attracted many people of differing political persuasions. However, their presence in the country did not mean that the Government favoured them or much less provided them with logistical or moral support. The Minister also pointed out that the rebel leaders who met with President Mandela in Pretoria recently were not resident in South Africa, but were merely on a brief visit to the country after the Lusaka meeting.
Furthermore, Minister Nzo also rejected the allegation that South Africa had refused to allow political parties sympathetic to the DRC Government to express themselves in this country, and described this allegation as unfounded.
It was unfortunate that suggestions had also been made that Minister Lolakombe had been denied an opportunity to meet with President Mandela during his one day visit to South Africa. Regrettably, the Minister had been obliged to postpone his visit on two occasions last week due to his work schedule, when arrangements could have been made for him to meet the President. His arrival this week with only a few hours notice had precluded such a meeting from taking place yesterday.
South Africa had, since the Pretoria Declaration of 23 August 1998, consistently and tirelessly promoted the mechanism agreed to calling for a ceasefire and troop standstill which would create the necessary conditions for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the DRC. Minister Nzo had been in contact with his Zambian counterpart to arrange a follow-up meeting to the Lusaka Talks, which a view to securing a ceasefire in the DRC without delay.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 17 NOVEMBER 1998