Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – The Democratic Republic of the Congo is developing diplomatic action across the board, emerging from the isolation of the war years 1998-2003.
This action is developed along different lines. The first takes up and raises, possibly on a more balanced, traditional collaboration with the Western powers (U.S., Belgium, and France in particular). The second direction is towards the non-European emerging powers like China, India, and Turkey. The third also seeks to strengthen cooperation with African countries, especially with neighboring states.
The visit to Kinshasa of the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, March 14 and 15, aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Turkey has long had a policy of openness to Africa and watches the DRC with great interest, as it is a country rich in natural resources, but poor in infrastructure. Thus, Turkish companies and watch with great interest at the economic opportunities that can be opened in the potentially rich Congolese market. Indeed, among the Turkish delegation are over 150 entrepreneurs and businessmen. Kinshasa, for its part, is looking for new economic partners to balance the overwhelming presence of Western Europe.
The Turkish President and his Congolese counterpart, Joseph Kabila, signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a mechanism of political consultation.”
The document provides for the holding of regular consultations (to be held alternately in Kinshasa and in Ankara or in a third country for an international forum) on a range of subjects: political, economic, diplomatic, cultural, technological, and scientific.
The DRC will then open an embassy in Ankara, while Turkey has long had its own diplomatic mission in Kinshasa.
In addition to economic development, the main concern of the Congolese government is the consolidation of peace and security in a country whose eastern provinces are still unsafe for the presence of various guerrilla groups. The formation of a unified army and a civilian police force are among the priorities of the Congolese authorities, supported by a number of international partners. These include the United States, who is forming a battalion of elite in Kisangani, which should become the nucleus of a professional army and, hopefully, respectful of human rights...and the European Union, which is contributing to the training of military officers and the creation of a new civilian police force. In mid-March, China also signed a collaboration agreement with national military, focusing on military training.
The return of peace in the eastern provinces, however, depends primarily on an agreement with neighboring countries. Reaching an agreement for the liberalization of the movement of persons, goods and capital among the four countries that make up the Economic Community of the Countries of the Great Lakes - CEPGL (Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda) is meant to create the conditions for overcoming the causes of instability in the area. However, as a missionary of the "Network for Peace in Congo," tells Fides, hopefully this will not become a loophole for officially "legalizing" the current "illegal" use of mineral resources in the DRC, which is at the heart of the conflict and the Congolese tragedy. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/3/2010)
