National dialogue budget estimated at US $1.2 million

The Central African Republic (CAR) has prepared a provisional budget of 750 million francs CFA (US $1.2 million) for a "national dialogue" expected to take place in March, an official document made available to IRIN indicates. The CAR Ministry of Finance and the national dialogue coordination team prepared the provisional budget. Deputy Finance Minister Lazare Doloula and the dialogue coordinator, Bishop Paulin Pomodimo, signed the document on 28 January. President Ange-Felix Patasse announced on 25 November 2002 that a national dialogue would be held, with the aim of ending a rebellion and reconciling all the CAR people. The provisional budget is divided into two parts - the preparatory phase and the actual talks. The preparatory phase is estimated at 150 million francs CFA ($1 = 588 francs CFA), which will be spent on constructing buildings, purchasing vehicles and office supplies, and on coordinating team members' travel abroad and other expenses. The second phase is estimated at 600 million francs. The government hopes the international community and "friendly countries" will support this phase, which caters for hotel bills, participants' per diem, logistics, security, transport and other fees. The dialogue coordination team says about 500 participants are expected to attend. Most of them will come from the capital, Bangui, others from the provinces and those exiled in Europe, the United States and Africa. Fifteen ambassadors accredited to Bangui and 50 guests, including observers and foreign reporters, will be invited to the dialogue, which is scheduled to last 10 days. Speaking on Monday to heads of mission at a meeting convened by Prime Minister Martin Ziguele, Bishop Pomodimo said it was possible that the dialogue would take place in March. After consultations with "internal political and social actors", Pomodimo and his deputy, Henri Maidou, are scheduled to travel to France and the US to meet the exiles, including the former army chief of staff, Francois Bozize, whose rebel troops currently occupy the northern and central CAR. "We must know the concessions that the rebels are ready to offer and what we are ready to offer," Pomodimo said on Monday on state-owned Radio Centrafrique. The radio reported that Pomodimo and Maidou had flown to the Gabonese capital, Libreville, to meet President Omar Bongo, before going to the Republic of Congo capital, Brazzaville, for a similar meeting with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who is the chairman of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa States. "Before going to Paris, we have to consult those people, who have much wisdom," Pomodimo told the radio. He and Maidou are due to visit Paris and New York to meet exiles and UN officials. Meanwhile, the coordination team has set up a 30-member committee charged with preparing for the dialogue. The committee members represent the various political religious interests in the CAR, labour unions and women's and youth organisations.