Masire emphasises need to avoid “chicken and egg” impasse

Meanwhile, Masire said a lack of funding continued to hinder his facilitation efforts. “It has affected it immensely,” he told IRIN. Although he had received virtually no money so far, the promised funds had been offered by “honourable people whom I hope will honour their pledges,” Masire said. A total of $6 million had been pledged towards his $7 million budget, but only the United Kingdom and Canada had followed through so far - the former providing 25,000 pounds and a technical adviser, and Canada covering some of his Kinshasa office expenses, the facilitator added. Masire expressed concern that the dialogue process could fall into a “chicken and egg situation” if “those who are to decide on the venue say ‘what’s the use of deciding on the venue because there is no money’ and those who have money say ‘what’s the use of giving money because there is no venue’.” The negotiations would “grind to a halt” unless donors responded, he added.