Milton Olupot
16 July 2009
Kampala — THE UN Secretary General's special envoy to the LRA affected areas, Joaquim Chissano, has said opportunities for a peaceful resolution of the northern Uganda conflict should be equally pursued along side the military action.
He said the joint military action against the LRA should not put the conflict beyond mediation initiatives.
Chissano, also former Mozambican president, was on Wednesday briefing the Security Council, currently chaired by Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, on the progress of the efforts aimed at ending the 23-year conflict.
"Opportunities for the peaceful resolution of the conflict should be equally pursued alongside the military action. However, this should not be perceived as an invitation for fresh LRA talks. The negotiations have been successfully concluded," he asserted.
The gains of the peace process, he said, need to be preserved and enhanced. "To achieve this, the final peace agreement should be implemented, no matter the prevailing circumstances."
The successful implementation of Peace Reconstruction and Development Programme will be the most effective way to consolidate peace, and foster reconciliation and national unity, he added.
Chissano took the council through the peace process up to 2007 when the talks collapsed after Kony refused to sign the final peace agreement.
"Kony has not engaged himself in a meaningful and direct manner with the peace process. He has remained distant elusive and deceitful, giving an impression of lack of interest in the peace process," he told the Council.
"Judging from the empire he was building in Garamba National Park, there are serious doubts that Kony is interested in a peaceful settlement of the conflict and return to Uganda."
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