High-level peace talks to end fighting in eastern Congo have stalled because of disagreements over amnesty, disarmament, integration and security arrangements for the M23 rebels, UN envoys said .
Mary Robinson, the UN special envoy for the Great Lakes region of central Africa, told the Security Council yesterday that Congolese and M23 negotiators reached agreement on eight of 12 articles in a draft peace agreement and "have agreed to reconvene soon in order to overcome their differences."
Martin Kobler, the UN special representative for Congo, expressed disappointment that after four days and nights of negotiations a comprehensive deal wasn't reached despite pressure from five international envoys but he said "I consider that the remaining gaps can be bridged."
He said the objective remains to conclude a peace agreement to end the rebellion, disband the M23 and transform it into "a political movement" under Congo's constitution and laws.
Kobler said it was especially regrettable that this objective couldn't be reached because "considerable progress" was made on amnesty for the rebels and security arrangements. He urged the M23 "to move constructively and without delay to sort out in the next few days the remaining issues."
The M23 fighters are made up of Congolese soldiers, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, who deserted the national army last year after accusing the government of failing to honour the terms of a deal signed in March 2009.
The talks in the Ugandan capital, Kampala have repeatedly stalled amid sporadic clashes between Congolese forces and M23 rebels in eastern Congo.
Kobler told the Security Council that regardless of progress in the talks, "the situation on the ground remains volatile and of great concern."
In recent days, he said the UN peacekeeping force observed "a considerable military build-up" around the key city of Goma and areas held by the M23. Rebel fighters also fired twice at unarmed UN helicopters and strengthened offensive positions threatening UN peacekeepers, he said.
Chrispus Kiyonga, the Ugandan government minister who is mediating the talks, said he believed a final accord would soon be reached but he gave no details.
