Sir, I am writing to you with reference to an article written by your Paris correspondent, Lara Marlowe, on the conflict in Zaire, entitled "The world distrusts France on Africa" (March 14th). This article expresses certain opinions on and interpretations of France's position and offers me a good opportunity to present a more precise picture of French policy regarding the situation in Zaire and in the Great Lakes region in general.
With respect to the internal conflict in Zaire, the French Government backs the policy recently established by the United Nations and does not see any alternative to it. The French Republic has declared its support for the five point peace plan proposed by Mr Mohamed Sahnoun, the UN and OAU's special envoy in the Great Lakes region.
This plan was unanimously ratified by the Security Council on February 18th as Resolution 1097. France sees this resolution as forming the cornerstone of the international community's action in Zaire, particularly in light of the community's support for Mr Sahnoun's proposed peace plan.
Most importantly, this plan proposes an immediate ceasefire among the warring Zaire factions. A ceasefire is essential so that humanitarian aid can reach all refugees and other displaced victims of the conflict, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity. The Zaire Government officially accepted the UN's peace plan, including the call for an immediate ceasefire; the rebel forces, however, did not. Therefore we believe that the international community, which ratified Resolution 1097, has a responsibility to help ensure that the Security Council's resolution is upheld.
With respect to the future, France, together with her EU partners and a number of other UN members, has actively supported the idea of organising an international conference under the auspices of the UN and the OAU, so that a global and lasting solution to the situation in the Great Lakes region might be found. The French Government hopes that; such a conference would facilitate the establishment of democratic institutions which respect the minorities of those countries concerned.
It would also reaffirm and aid guarantees that the principles of territorial integrity and national sovereignty in Zaire and the other states of the Great Lakes region are observed. Therefore France, one of the most important providers of development aid in this part of the world, fervently hopes that the countries of this region of Africa might once again know peace, as peace is fundamental to their economic and social development. - Yours, etc.,
Ambassade de France en Irlande,
Dublin.