Presidents vow to work together to restore peace in DR Congo

The Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso and his Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) counterpart Joseph Kabila have pledged to join hands in search for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern DR Congo. The two presidents made the overture when Kbila arrived here on Friday for a two-day visit. They expressed the determination after talks over issues of interest of common concern, especially the situation in eastern DR Congo and the bilateral relations between the two neighbors. They also discussed the outcome of the four-party talks held in March in the Republic of Congo's northern town of Oyo, involving presidents Sassou, Kabila, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of Rwanda. "I briefed President Sassou on what is going on in DR Congo, our military and political plans, and we decided to continue working together to resolve the crisis in eastern DR Congo and the general political situation in the country," Kabila told the media after the meeting. He said all options on pacifying the east of DR Congo are on the table of negotiations and that none of them has been disregarded by his government. "On the diplomatic front, we are consulting with our partners such as the Republic of Congo which is not only a partner, but also a neighbor and a friendly nation," said Kabila. Sassou said his country was ready to help to find lasting peace in DR Congo "We shall always be ready, as we have always been for the whole of Africa, not only in the Central Africa's sub-region, but for the rest of Africa on a number of issues," he said. He welcomed the frequent discussions with his DR Congo counterpart on the search for peace. Sassou promised to work for the restoration of peace in the entire Great Lakes region. In January, he took over the rotational chairmanship of the 11-member International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL). He is also the mediator in the Libreville talks on the crisis in Central African Republic and president of the committee monitoring the implementation of the peace agreements signed on Jan. 11 between the rivals.