From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: MOZAMBIQUE: Mediators struggling to keep peace talks on course
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 01:37:15 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: MOZAMBIQUE: Mediators struggling to keep peace talks on course


an inter press service feature

by paddy agnew

rome, oct 01 (ips) -- italian and roman catholic church
negotiators are this week struggling to keep the rome based talks
on course for the signing of a peace agreement to end mozambique's
16 year old civil war.

following an historic, first ever face to face meeting between
mozambique president joaquin chissano and renamo (mozambique
national resistance) rebel leader afonso dhlakama in early august,
it was agreed that the two sides would sign a definitive ceasefire
by today.

when problems on security and military issues threatened to
derail this timetable, the two men met again in the botswanan
capital of gaborone, two weeks ago, to work out a further
compromise.

then, just when all seemed set for the successful conclusion to
two years of negotiations, rebel leader dhlakama appeared to throw
a spanner in the works earlier this week by refusing to come to
rome for the peace signing ceremony.  apparently, dhlakama claims
that he may not be able to deliver his side of the latest
agreement.

western diplomats attending the rome talks also point out that,
inevitably, there is a great deal of distrust and fear on the
renamo side about the security of renamo fighters in a post-
ceasefire mozambique.

the italian foreign ministry, however, this week claimed that
dhlakama's objections did not justify any further delays and
accused the rebel leader of acting against the best interests of
the mozambican people.

in the end, pressure from italy and from zimbabwe president
robert mugabe, a key figure in the peace process, may have
prompted dhlakama to change his mind.  in yet another turn of
events, dhlakama travelled to rome on thursday, thus setting the
peace process back into forward motion.

for the time being, however, it is not clear when and if a final
peace settlement will be signed. more days of complex negotiation
are expected.

in the meantime, african dignitaries such as president mugabe,
south african foreign minister pik botha, portuguese prime
minister anibal cavaco and angolan president jose eduardo dos
santos are waiting in rome, hoping to attend the peace signing
ceremony. (more/ips)

mozambique: mediators struggling to keep peace talks on course(2-e)

mozambique: mediators struggling (2)

italy's chief mediator, mario rafaelli, who along with
representatives of the roman catholic san egidio community in
rome, has played host to the talks, said on thursday that he still
believed a final peace agreement would be signed, although
probably not before saturday.

raffaelli added that dhlakama's last minute objections to the
agreement were but minor details.

president mugabe, who has stationed 7,000 troops in mozambique to
guard zimbabwe's lifeline to indian ocean ports, had earlier
expressed optimism, brushing aside suggestions that he should not
make the trip to rome and arguing that renamo leader dhlakama
would have ''a lot to lose'' if he did not sign the accord.

both dhlakama and president chissano are under huge international
pressure to bring the negotiations to a speedy and successful
conclusion. not only do african and other leaders want to see an
end to southern africa's last major conflict but, even more
worryingly, mozambique is currently faced with the threat of an
imminent, drought provoked famine.

the rome based united nations food and agriculture organisation
(fao) estimates that if war in mozambique continues to prevent
food supplies and aid workers getting through to starving people
in the countryside, then as many as five million mozambicans could
die of famine.

last month, a united nations humanitarian affairs official based
in geneva, charles lamuniere, said that mozambique risks becoming
''another somalia''.

mozambique is but one of 10 southern african nations hit by a
drought-induced famine that threatens as many as 18 million of the
region's 130 million inhabitants.

a monthly u.n. drought situation report issued in geneva last
month highlighted concern that, despite increased arrivals of food
in mozambique, inadequate quantities get through to the seven
provinces.  daily reports from these same provinces to the capital
maputo tell of death through starvation or dehydration.
(end/ips/ip/pa/rj/92)

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