In my quality as leader of the Internal Opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I have welcomed with satisfaction the decision of President KABILA to accept a political dialogue between Congolese on the fundamental matter of the legitimacy of the power.

I express as for me, all my availability to take part to such dialogue in view to bring my contribution to the solution of the serious crisis which, at present, shakes our country, as well as to the prevention of any other crisis being able to rise later.

However, I have to underline that the question of the legitimacy of the power should not have arisen by free, democratic and transparent elections. In the other, it arises now, during this Transition period for which a National Consensus is necessary in view to find a form of legitimacy of power not issued from the ballot-box.

In these conditions, all serious political dialogue, credible and susceptible to produce expected effects to save our country will have, and it is my deep conviction, to regroup the main political forces of the country, acting through their limited delegations, under the auspices of the U.N.O. and the O.A.U., and in the presence of the S.A.D.C. and the European Union delegates. The main political forces are :

1. Mr KABILA's Government;
2. The Internal Opposition, depositary and defender of the democratic message and the historical Acquisitions from the Sovereign National Conference;
3. The Armed RCD/MLC Opposition.

This political meeting between the social and political Forces of the country will lead to a Consensus that will solve the question of the legitimacy of the power during the Transition period.

I therefore solemnly appeal to the competent U.N.O. and O.A.U. authorities, so that they assist the Congolese people in the rapid organization of this political meeting which can be held in any place they will choose; The agenda and the other terms and conditions of functioning of this forum will have to be drawn up by consensus by all the participants to the dialogue.

We furthermore ask to President KABILA to defuse the political atmosphere of the country, notably by liberating all political and opinion prisoners and by decreing the political amnesty measure.

The National Debate is going to be held at the moment when our country goes through a difficult period of its history. This is why I will not give my caution to sittings that would look like a CPP Congress.

I formulate the sincere vow of seeing President KABILA resolutely committed on the real paths of the National Dialogue with the above-mentioned main Political and Social Forces as untwistable partners, to definitively extract our country from the present politico - military crisis so as to build a free, great and beautiful Congo, the real turn-table in the heart of Africa.

Let God protect the Democratic Republic of Congo

Kinshasa , 20 of March 1999

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