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