MEDIA REACTION DROC; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 001471

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION DROC; HARARE


1. Under headline "DRC rebel ministers irresponsible" the
pro-government weekly "The Sunday Mirror" dedicated its
July 20 editorial to urging leaders from the Democratic
Republic of Congo's (DRC) two main rebel movements "to act
responsibly and in the interests of their long-suffering
people." The editorial comes immediately after the cabinet
ministers had boycotted a swearing-in ceremony last Friday
in protest against President Joseph Kabila's appointment as
head of the transitional government. Excerpts follow:


2. ". . .As we see it, the argument by the rebel
ministers lacks merit and serves to complicate an already
precarious peace deal that presents the best possible
chance of achieving peace in the war-torn central African
country. It profits little for the rebel ministers to
insist on academic arguments that serve as a stumbling
block to the realization of peace in their country.
African leaders, as well as the international community,
have invested a great deal into assisting the Congolese to
map out a viable way forward out of the deplorable
situation. . .It is, therefore, naive and
retrogressive for any one of the key parties to the
Congolese conflict to seek to undo the sterling work
achieved. The sooner the Congolese road map is set
in motion, the better. . . ."

SULLIVAN