President Laurent-Desire Kabila has confirmed that a high-level Congolese delegation will take part in the UN Security Council’s open debate on the DRC conflict in New York from 24 January. However, he set as a precondition for his own participation that Council president and US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke demand the withdrawal of Rwanda and Uganda from Congolese territory. “Mr Holbrooke should demand the departure of the Rwandans and Ugandans from Congolese territory. Once he does that I can go, but if he doesn’t he can forget about it. I am happy here at home,” Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. Kabila, speaking on state television, also rejected any inter-Congolese dialogue in New York, saying any such talks must take place on Congolese soil.
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