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New Vision (Kampala)
October 31, 2003
Posted to the web October 31, 2003
Tim Cocks
Kampala
The European Commission (EC) head of delegation in Uganda, Sigurd Illing, has said Uganda should seek a peaceful settlement with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), however difficult the process may be.
"There is no simple way to negotiate with Kony," Illing told journalists at a press lunch at Hotel Africana. "we have no concrete proposal but we think they (the Government) should continue to try and reach the LRA for talks."
Illing acknowledged that the talks were hard. "We have a difficulty when we suggest a negotiated solution," he said, "I've not heard of anyone in the Government having direct contact with Kony. The Government has tried to get in touch with LRA commanders but Kony himself seems to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to reach," Illing said.
His comments follow a visit to Gulu by the Dutch development cooperation minister, Agnes van Ardenne, who suggested that President Yoweri Museveni and Kony should be brought to a negotiating table.
"The minister feels that the military option is not an option," Illing said.
