Kouchner, Kabila discuss FDLR

KIGALI - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner yesterday arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he was expected to hold talks with DRC President Joseph Kabila on how to return peace to Eastern Congo. While addressing journalists at Village Urugwiro after his meeting with President Paul Kagame Thursday, Kouchner reiterated his country’s commitment to improving the situation in the conflict-ridden part of the country. “On the ground, however, for men and women who live in the east, things have improved but not enough. This will certainly be a subject in the discussion with Kabila”, he is quoted by AFP as saying. “I know his stance on MONUC,” Kouchner said referring to the large United Nations mission in the DR Congo. “I would like to know what we can do for the population in the South and North Kivu provinces so they see their situation improve”. Kouchner praised the revived relationship between Rwanda and DRC, saying that there remains a lot to do in that part of the DRC. Eastern Congo has for years been rendered insecure by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), remnants of the former Rwandan army ex-Far and Interahamwe militia who spearheaded the 1994 Genocide of Tutsis which claimed the lives of over one million people. Kouchner underscored that it was important for his country and the DRC government to find means of having peace prevail in the Eastern and Southern provinces of the vast African country. The French Minister was by yesterday expected to continue his six nation trip to the Republic of Congo’s capital Brazzaville. Ends

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Kouchner, Kabila discuss FDLR