Mbabazi Unaware Of Museveni - Kabila Talks

By Vision Reporter The Minister of State for Regional Corporation, Amama Mbabazi, yesterday said he was not aware of a request by President Yoweri Museveni for talks with the new DR Congo leader, Joseph Kabila. Sources in London recently told The New Vision that Museveni had made an informal request for talks with Kabila who was recently in London for an official visit. The sources said Kabila did not commit himself. Mbabazi said, "I am unaware. I have been deeply busy with elections but I would not be surprised. Museveni has always had the desire to talk to Kabila, like he had wanted to do with his late father. But opportunities have come and gone due to Museveni's busy schedule." He said Museveni had missed the opportunity in Lusaka, Arusha and Libya because he had to rush back to Uganda to campaign for presidency. Meanwhile, Anne Mugisa reports that Kabila, has asked the United Kingdom to pressure Rwanda and Uganda to completely withdraw their forces from the DRC. The BBC quoted Kabila as saying, "We believe that Britain and Europe in general should, or must put much more pressure on Rwandese and Ugandan forces which are in Congo illegally." Kabila said he was determined to bring stability and unity to his divided country. Uganda has been withdrawing troops from the DRC. The latest batch and second one since Joseph Kabila came to power was withdrawn yesterday. British secretary Robin Cook told journalists that he assured Kabila of Britain's full support for the Lusaka agreement as the best hope for securing lasting peace in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region. "I also urge the president to have the courage and determination to drive the peace process forward," Cook said. "I also take the opportunity to raise...the human rights situation in the DRC and the importance we attach to keeping norms and respecting freedoms," he added. Britain, the UN and the European Union are working closely to encourage the parties in the DRC conflict to implement the Lusaka peace agreement, a foreign office press statement said. The statement said the UK has provided military liaison officers for the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC). It has also contributed pound sterling160,000 to support the Joint Military Commission (JMC) and pound sterling 25,000 for the proposed inter-Congolese dialogue. Kabila, has asked the United Kingdom to pressure Rwanda and Uganda to completely withdraw their forces from the DRC, add Anne Mugisa and Agencies. Kabila met British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and briefly, Prime Minister Tony Blair. The visit this week is Kabila's second official trip overseas since his inauguration in January. "We believe that Britain and Europe in general should, or must, put much more pressure on the forces of Rwanda and Uganda, which are in Congo illegally, " BBC quoted Kabila as saying. Kabila said he is determined to bring stability and unity to his divided country. Uganda has been withdrawing troops from the DRC. The latest batch and second one since Joseph Kabila came to power was withdrawn yesterday. Cook told journalists that he assured Kabila of Britain's full support for the Lusaka agreement as the best hope for securing lasting peace in the DRC and the region. "I also urged the president to have the courage and determination to drive the peace process forward," Cook said. "I also took the opportunity to raise...the human rights situation in the DRC and the importance we attach to maintaining international norms and respecting fundamental freedoms," he said. Ends