By Prensa Latina,
United Nations : The UN special representative for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Alan Doss announced on Tuesday he is negotiating to hold joint talks with the government forces and the rebels.
In a teleconference from Kinshasa, Doss did not specify a date for this meeting among envoys of the DRC National Armed Forces, the rebels of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) and the UN Mission (MONUC).
But he said he expected that those talks become a reality the present week.
He also said the CNDP rebels, loyal to insurrect Gen. Laurent Nkunda, stated that they would accept the cease of fire. They also said they would withdraw from the positions they occupied on Sunday in Kivu’s northern area, to allow the MONUC to get control of those areas.
The UN representative insisted that the humanitarian situation of that province is still extremely difficult and efforts are being made to transfer those displaced to localities far away from the conflict fronts, for their security and protection. Doss held that the negotiations by the UN special envoy for the region, Nigerian ex President Olusegun Obasanjo, are boosting the diplomatic negotiation.
“We are trying to take advantage of the dynamics originated by ex President Obasanjo’s negotiation to stabilize the situation, improve the humanitarian access and pave the way for the political and diplomatic process,” he said.
Doss highlighted that this crisis in the DRC’s eastern area would not be solved only with the use of force, and that the political process was essential.