From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:MOZAMBIQUE: UN ENVOY SAYS THERE IS REAL INTEREST IN PEACE PROCESS
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 03:08:17 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

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

Reference: Disarmament & Peace
Title: MOZAMBIQUE: UN ENVOY SAYS THERE IS REAL INTEREST IN PEACE PROCESS


roma, dec 8 (ips) -- top un official aldo ajello said tuesday
that there is a real interest in mozambique for continuing the
peace process kicked off by an october agreement between the
government and the rebel ''mozambique national resistance
movement ''(renamo).

he also said that the italian government's response to a
request by un secretary-general boutros boutros-ghali to send
troops to mozambique will certainly be known this week.

ajello, who is the special representative of un
secretary-general boutros boutros-ghali, delivered a letter
containing the request to the head of the italian government,
guiliano amato, on monday.

the troops would be used to protect strategic corridors in
mozambique, through which relief aid will be channelled to
millions of people affected by drought and by the 16-year civil
war between renamo and the government.

ajello said that there was a ''positive orientation'' towards
the request within the italian government, which brokered the
two-year negotiation that culminated in the peace agreement,
signed in rome on oct. 4.

the communication routes that the italian contingent would
protect include the so-called ''beira corridor,'' leading from
the port of beira to the interior of the country.

the italian force would replace troops from zimbabwe and
malawi now guarding the corridor and whose withdrawal is one of
the terms of the peace agreement.

the treaty stipulated that foreign armies would have to pull
out of mozambique within 30 days of its signing, which means that
the accord is currently being violated and ''this has to be
resolved as quickly as possible,'' ajello told ips.

italy is being asked to provide a batallion within three or
four weeks at the latest, so as to enable a total withdrawal of
the zimbabwean and malawian troops.

other countries will also provide contingents to protect major
communication routes, since neither the mozambican army nor
renamo can perform this task, ajello added.

the two forces are in the process of demobilizing their
troops, another of the terms of the peace agreement, which also
features the creation of a new unified army.

campaigning for presidential and legislative elections,
scheduled for late 1993, would begin once the new force is
formed. (more)
----


ajello described an upcoming meeting of mozambique's donor
countries, billed for dec. 15 - 16, as very important because it
would determine the amount of resources available for southern
african country.

the meeting will be attended by the united states, canada, the
european community and scandinavian countries, japan, the united
nations and other international bodies.

in particular, it would determine the level of funds available
for the reincorporation of the military into civilian life, the
resettlement of refugees, the electoral process and the formation
of political parties. (end/ips/trd/so/jp/kb/92)