Belgian foreign minister hails Kabila initiatives

In a statement released Friday, Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel welcomed Kabila’s initiatives “to increase political freedom, to reaffirm his support of the inter-Congolese dialogue, and to take courageous measures to respond to problems of the daily well-being of the Congolese”. The statement noted last week’s introduction of the new law reversing the ban on political parties describing it as “a welcome step in the DRC”. “It leads the way for the Congolese people to exercise their democratic rights, and it contributes to the development of the inter-Congolese dialogue,” he said.

Michel also drew attention to “daily difficulties of the Congolese population that are linked to precarious economic, financial, and social conditions” and emphasised the priority that should be given to stabilisation of the DRC’s currency and preservation of consumer purchase power - an endeavour in which the Congolese government should be supported both internally and by the international community.