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To: John Antoniou who wrote ()	1/15/1999 5:11:00 PM
From: ROY SENDELE	Read Replies (1) of 264

Africa ministers prepare for Congo peace talks 11:11 a.m. Jan 13, 1999 Eastern By Buchizya Mseteka LUSAKA, Jan 13 (Reuters) - African defence and foreign ministers are to meet in the Zambian capital Lusaka on Thursday to prepare for a regional summit called to try to end the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zambian President Frederick Chiluba told Reuters that he was optimistic about the 12-nation talks and said he was continuing with regional consultations on the matter. ''We are hopeful that the region can help to end the war in the Congo,'' he said. Zambian government officials said the talks on Thursday and Friday would also involve the regional South African Development Community (SADC), the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations. ''This time I think we are very much closer to a deal. We are closer to seeing the Lusaka magic work,'' said SADC Executive Secretary Kaire Mbuende. SADC, which groups 14 regional nations, has been involved as a security and peacekeeping organ in other African conflicts. A rebel delegation led by Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba was expected in Lusaka on Thursday. Chiluba has remained neutral in the war in Africa's third largest country and has spearheaded SADC efforts for a truce and political negotiations between President Laurent Kabila and the RCD rebels. Regional analysts said the participation of the RCD which launched a rebellion against Kabila last August, was key to the success of the summit of heads of state. Chiluba told Zambian media on Sunday that rebel involvement was essential to end the conflict in the former Zaire. Kabila has so far refused to face the rebels but he made a surprise offer last week to meet them in Kinshasa. Regional economic powerhouse South Africa has made rebel participation a condition of its involvement in the Congo summit which already has been postponed twice. South African President Nelson Mandela fears the conflict in the Congo unless adequately tackled, could erupt into a full scale multi-national war at the heart of Africa. Government officials said the ministers would prepare a technical and political document to be ratified by the heads of state and rebel officials.

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