Rwanda: National Council for Democratic Change Press release

PRESS RELEASE   The National Council for Democratic Change (NCDC) welcomes support given to President Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE's Statement pleading for a negotiated solution to the conflicts in the African Great Lakes  _______________________________________________________________________________ Rwanda Political organizations, members of the National Council for Democratic Change (NCDC), which is an Alternative to the RPF regime in power in Rwanda, held their meeting in Reims, France, this Saturday, June 22, 2013.   Members present expressed satisfaction for the work done since the creation of the Council on March 2, 2013. Recognizing the urgency of the situation and the importance of the challenges, the NCDC has established a management team composed as follows:   1.      President: General Emmanuel HABYARIMANA 2.      Vice President for Political Affairs: Ambassador Ildephonse MUNYESHYAKA 3.      Vice President for External Relations: Boniface HITIMANA 4.      Secretary General and Spokesperson: Eugene NDAHAYO   After assessing the geopolitical situation in Africa and the World, NCDC participants focused their attention on the Great Lakes Region of Africa, and particularly on the gravity of the humanitarian situation and on the proxy wars that continue to wreak havoc in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).   The National Council for Democratic Change (NCDC) welcomes the continuing deployment of the African intervention Brigade in Goma and reiterates its full support to the wise and courageous statement of His Excellency Mr Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, aiming at finding an in-depth solution to conflicts opposing the Rwandan, the Congolese and the Ugandan governments and their respective rebellions. Indeed, on May 26, of the current year, he had called upon those governments to engage in direct talks with these armed groups since the military option alone does not seem effective.   The National Council for Democratic Change (NCDC) wishes to express its deep appreciation to the Secretary General of the UN, Mr Ban Ki Moon and to the Heads of member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for their wholehearted support to this window of opportunity opened by the President of Tanzania.   The National Council for Democratic Change (NCDC) deplores, however, the position of Mr. Jean Pascal LABILLE, Belgian Minister of Public Enterprises and Cooperation who, instead of seeing the wisdom in President KIKWETE's counsel, chose to pander to Kigali's 'scare-crow'policy, advocating "the status quo that has kept the Great Lakes region on fire and blood for two decades" .He could have encouraged dialogue and search for a timely and negotiated political solution between the Rwandan government and the opposition.   Done at Reims, June 22, 2013   For NCDC,   General Emmanuel HABYARIMANA President

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