BELGIUM/ZAIRE: ARCHBISHOP MONSENGWO SAYS HE WANTS INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES BEFORE ACCEPTING THE SPEAKER'S POST IN ZAIRE'S TRANSITIONAL PARLIAMENT.

Record ID: 639712

  • Title: BELGIUM/ZAIRE: ARCHBISHOP MONSENGWO SAYS HE WANTS INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES BEFORE ACCEPTING THE SPEAKER'S POST IN ZAIRE'S TRANSITIONAL PARLIAMENT.
  • Date: 10th May 1997
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BLEGIUM (MAY 11, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. MV: ZAIREAN ARCHBISHOP LAURENT PASINYA MONSENGWO ARRIVES AT NEWS CONFERENCE (2 SHOTS) 0.22 2. MCU: MONSENGWO SAYING HE WILL ONLY ACCEPT THE POSITION OF SPEAKER IN THE ZAIREAN PARLIAMENT IF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES ARE MET (FRENCH) (7 SHOTS) 2.25 KINSHASA, ZAIRE (MAY 10, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 3. GV: PARLIAMENT EXTERIOR 2.30 4. GV: DELEGATES ARRIVING (2 SHOTS) 2.43 5. GV: DELEGATES RAISE HANDS IN VOTE TO REINSTATE MONSENGWO 2.48 6. GV/MV: PARLIAMENT IN SESSION (5 SHOTS) 3.23 Initials s.3 - p.3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 25th May 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / KINSHASA, ZAIRE
  • City:
  • Country: EUROPE AFRICA Belgium Zaire Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Reuters ID: LVA6XUDDSW5F3DPYH4EL6Z6NXRPN
  • Story Text: INTRO: Zairean Archbishop Laurent Pasinya Monsengwo has indicated that he will accept the post as speaker of the parliament set up under Zaire's transitional constitution.

    He also has said he is prepared to take initiatives to end the hostilities between Zairean government troops and rebel forces.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------- Monsengwo said in Brussels on Sunday (May 11) that he would accept the post of parliamentary speaker if he had national and international guarantees. He did not elaborate further.

    Speaking during a stopover on his return to Kinshasa from a Vatican conference, Monsengwo said he also needed the approval of his archbishopric of Kinsangani, of the episcopal conferences of Zaire and Africa, and of the Holy See in Rome.

    He said he would announce his definitive reaction in Kinshasa once all his conditions had been met.

    The personal peace initiatives, which he did not detail, were aimed at "arriving at a transition which has consensus support and is quick," he said.

    Zairean lawmakers on Saturday (May 10) voted Monsengwo as speaker of the transitional parliament, making him a potential interim successor to ailing President Mobutu Sese Seko, who is faced with a rebellion led by Laurent Kabila.

    According to Zaire's transition constitution, the speaker of parliament succeeds the president in the event of his death or incapacity.

    Monsengwo's appointment would allow Mobutu the possibility of standing down without leaving a power vacuum in his wake.

    The post of speaker has been vacant since a combined move by Mobutu followers and MPs of the radical opposition ousted Monsengwo two years ago.

    At the time Mobutu's followers accused the popular archbishop of being too close to the opposition.


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