CONGO-DEM.REPUBLIC, 26 OCT 2002 (13:13) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES: KOFI ANNAN CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION AGAINST CULPRITS (STANDARD, POLITICS/ECONOMY) Decisive international action must be taken against those responsible for the scandalous and repeated pillaging of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The request came from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who speaking yesterday in New York stated that report presented in the past days by the United Nations experts on the responsibilities and involvement in the systematic pillaging of Congolese natural resources, brings to the light "extremely serious matters". Annan observed that it is essential for the Security Council to shed light on the matter and act accordingly. A lack of action in this case would further threaten DR-Congo: "The will to benefit from the war continues - deplored the secretary general - and there is no interest in peace": Harsh words that come on the eve of the anticipated Inter-Congolese summit to bring together the different and numerous factions of a nation for too long afflicted by an endemic conflict. The report published last week, drawn upby a panel of experts headed by the Egyptian Mahmoud Kassem, also recommends financial restrictions against 29 companies based in DR-Congo and other nations, as also severe sanctions against 54 prominent figures, including representatives of the government of Kinshasa. But what can foreign Governments do to protect DR-Congo from the political-financial crime denounced by the UN report? Kofi Annan hinted at possible measures: an embargo on exportations or the assumption of responsibility by governments to ensure that companies do not act irresponsibly. While for the moment the UN Security Council has taken some time to better analyse the report and therefore any real discussions on the episode are delayed for a while. Indiscretions collected by MISNA indicate that the Congolese government of President Joseph Kabila is extremely embarrassed by the explicit accusations against certain ministers and top State functionaries. A first excellent figure may have already faced the consequences of his mention in the report: presidential Minister Katumba Mwamke did not depart for Pretoria with the Kinshasa government delegation for Inter-Congolese talks. Kabila has apparently 'diplomatically' left him behind. Congolese authorities have however denied the allegations. According to the local press, in a press conference yesterday four ministers defended the trade activities of the government as being conducted in a legal manner. (BO) ________________________________________________________________
