Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo, together with Deputy Defence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, will lead a South African delegation to the DRC crisis talks of regional Foreign and Defence Ministers in Lusaka, Zambia on 14 and 15 January 1999. The South African Government has been invited by President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia to attend the talks in an effort to end the conflict in the DRC.
The intended talks, chaired by Zambia, is a further step in the process to end the DRC crisis and will include non-SADC states. It is understood that representatives of the OAU and the UN, and of governments of the DRC, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Angola, Zimbabwe, Gabon, Rwanda, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Chad and the Libya have been invited to attend.
Following the Ministerial talks, a Heads of State and Government Summit will take place on 16 January 1999 in Lusaka in order to consider proposals made by the Ministerial meeting.
The Government remains convinced that the outcome of the Pretoria SADC Summit of 23 August 1998, provided the framework for a negotiated solution to the conflict. The Summit called for a cease-fire; a cessation of hostilities; the withdrawal of all foreign forces involved in the conflict; and negotiations among all inhabitants of the DRC aimed at re-establishing a democratic government in the country.
Within that context, the South African Government continues to be fully supportive of the efforts of President Chiluba of Zambia, in accordance with the mandate given to him by the SADC Summit held in Mauritius during September 1998, to bring about a cease-fire in the DRC. The South African Government has been actively involved in previous talks held in Lusaka and Gaborone aimed at achieving consensus among all parties to the conflict - including the rebel forces - for the terms of a cease-fire and the modalities of its implementation.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
14 JANUARY 1999