National reconciliation talks close

Regional leaders underlined their hope for peace in the Central African Republic on Monday by attending the closing ceremony of national reconciliation talks, which ended on 16 October, for an expectant 3.5 million people. "Barriers were lifted between CAR sons from the north, the south and the west," the Rev Isaac Zokoe, the coordinator of the national forum, said during the ceremony. The presidents of the Republic of Congo and Gabon attended the event in the capital, Bangui. Benin, Chad, Mali and Sudan as well as the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States and the African Union sent envoys. After three other national conferences failed to heal the nation's wounds, the latest six-week effort was more promising in achieving this goal because it produced results. These came in the form of recommendations the 350 delegates - representing diverse political, professional and social organisations - produced for the country's rulers to implement. Delegates formed commissions on truth and reconciliation; politics and diplomacy; economy and finances; defence and security; as well as one on social, cultural and educational issues. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended that the government reflect a wider political representation within the establishment; that a national mediation body be set up; that a conflict prevention, management and resolution structure be established; and for the appointment of an independent human rights commissioner. The commission recommended the creation of a solidarity fund to compensate victims of conflicts, and also urged development partners, especially those who left the country due to war, to return. The Political and Diplomatic Commission recommended a revision of the electoral calendar, starting with municipal and legislative elections, then the presidential election in the second half of 2004. It called for a new constitution, instituting a system where power is shared between the president and the prime minister. The Economic Commission recommended the restoration of capital gains tax, abolished by the ousted president, Ange-Felix Patasse, after his election in 1993. The commission also called for a greater effort to stamp out corruption and mismanagement of government's financial services. In addition, it called for the modernisation of agriculture on which most on the nation depends. As for the Defence and Security Commission, it recommended that troops be deployed on the nation's borders and that the size of the army be increased. Presenting the recommendations to the plenary, the rapporteur for the talks called for them to be made binding. A 21-member follow-up committee was set up on 16 October to oversee implementation of the recommendations. In his speech to the delegates on 14 October, CAR leader Francois Bozize said the dialogue would not be "a bracket opened and immediately closed". "I will do my best to ensure that the resolutions of the dialogue are implemented", Bozize said during the ceremony the nation. The dialogue cost the local equivalent of US $330,000, paid for largely by the People's Republic of China and Gabon.