UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review for 26 April 2005
*Original in French
The arrival of European Union officials Louis Michel and Javier Solana and the press conference of the Congolese armed forces (FADRC) chief of staff are the main topics of today's newspaper commentary.
The arrival of European Union officials Louis Michel and Javier Solana and the press conference of the Congolese armed forces (FADRC) chief of staff are the main topics of today's newspaper commentary.
'Javier Solana and Louis Michel in Kinshasa this Tuesday,' LE POTENTIEL announces. Noting that 'the European Union has finally decided to come to the aid of the DRC,' the paper, citing diplomatic sources, reports that 'the mission's aim is to put pressure on the main Congolese leaders to ensure the transition process is kept well on track.' Hence LE POTENTIEL concludes, 'Louis Michel and Javier Solana come to Kinshasa on a rescue mission.'
According to LE PHARE, 'Louis Michel and Javier Solana are in Kinshasa on a difficult mission.' While noting that 'the European Union mission arrives with a specific agenda,' the paper however points out that the mission 'still has to find interlocutors who are prepared to facilitate its task and offer guarantees for bringing back not only the interest of a national opinion increasing critical of its leaders but also the interest of an often-complacent international community.'
On the same subject, LE PALMARES titles 'Louis Michel and Javier Solana today in Kinshasa in order to calm [UDPS leader] Etienne Tshisekedi down.' Wondering about 'the UDPS leader's attitude toward the EU officials', the paper reports that 'Messrs Solana and Michel had prepared a letter to EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxemburg on Monday, a letter outlining the details of this mission to Kinshasa.'
According to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, 'Javier Solana and Louis Michel will proceed to launch the UN/EU project to train the new Congolese police. About a thousand elements [have already been] trained by France, with European financial support.'
Reporting on the press conference held by the Congolese army chief of staff, L'OBSERVATEUR quotes General Kisempia as assuring that 'the army will remain the last rampart before, during and after the elections.'
Some opposition parties are on record as saying the date of June 30 will mark the end of the current political transition. 'June 30 is not an ordinary day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, because that's the date on which our country acceded to national sovereignty. There will be nothing unfortunate happening that day; all measures have been taken to ensure the security of the Congolese people as they joyfully mark this historic day,' the paper writes, further quoting General Kisempia.
General Kisempia also discussed the military training and integration process. In this regard, LA REFERENCE PLUS reports that the army chief of staff 'recognised a certain slowness due to financial and logistical problems.' However, 'the process in well on track,' the paper quotes General Kisempia as saying.
LE PALMARES quotes General Kisempia in saying that 'There is no single Congolese soldier going unpaid.'
In a different development, LE POTENTIEL announces that 'Members of the National Assembly are preparing a constitutional dictatorship.' According to the paper, 'the National Assembly is resuming its plenary sessions this Wednesday.' Citing 'concordant sources', the paper says, 'Deep differences still persist on key issues ' differences that exist not only within the National Assembly, but also between the National Assembly and the Senate.'
In a front-page story, L'AVENIR reports that preparations for 'elections are moving forward', with the 'testing out of electronic voting procedures, i.e., voter identification and enrolment.' Quoting the head of the Independent Electoral Commission, the paper writes, 'the elections train is moving, and nothing can deflate the hopes that this raises among the Congolese people.'
According to LE PHARE, 'Louis Michel and Javier Solana are in Kinshasa on a difficult mission.' While noting that 'the European Union mission arrives with a specific agenda,' the paper however points out that the mission 'still has to find interlocutors who are prepared to facilitate its task and offer guarantees for bringing back not only the interest of a national opinion increasing critical of its leaders but also the interest of an often-complacent international community.'
On the same subject, LE PALMARES titles 'Louis Michel and Javier Solana today in Kinshasa in order to calm [UDPS leader] Etienne Tshisekedi down.' Wondering about 'the UDPS leader's attitude toward the EU officials', the paper reports that 'Messrs Solana and Michel had prepared a letter to EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxemburg on Monday, a letter outlining the details of this mission to Kinshasa.'
According to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, 'Javier Solana and Louis Michel will proceed to launch the UN/EU project to train the new Congolese police. About a thousand elements [have already been] trained by France, with European financial support.'
Reporting on the press conference held by the Congolese army chief of staff, L'OBSERVATEUR quotes General Kisempia as assuring that 'the army will remain the last rampart before, during and after the elections.'
Some opposition parties are on record as saying the date of June 30 will mark the end of the current political transition. 'June 30 is not an ordinary day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, because that's the date on which our country acceded to national sovereignty. There will be nothing unfortunate happening that day; all measures have been taken to ensure the security of the Congolese people as they joyfully mark this historic day,' the paper writes, further quoting General Kisempia.
General Kisempia also discussed the military training and integration process. In this regard, LA REFERENCE PLUS reports that the army chief of staff 'recognised a certain slowness due to financial and logistical problems.' However, 'the process in well on track,' the paper quotes General Kisempia as saying.
LE PALMARES quotes General Kisempia in saying that 'There is no single Congolese soldier going unpaid.'
In a different development, LE POTENTIEL announces that 'Members of the National Assembly are preparing a constitutional dictatorship.' According to the paper, 'the National Assembly is resuming its plenary sessions this Wednesday.' Citing 'concordant sources', the paper says, 'Deep differences still persist on key issues ' differences that exist not only within the National Assembly, but also between the National Assembly and the Senate.'
In a front-page story, L'AVENIR reports that preparations for 'elections are moving forward', with the 'testing out of electronic voting procedures, i.e., voter identification and enrolment.' Quoting the head of the Independent Electoral Commission, the paper writes, 'the elections train is moving, and nothing can deflate the hopes that this raises among the Congolese people.'
