Russ Feingold: “I would like to, just very briefly, indicate some of the steps that have been taken in the Congo pursuant to what is…”

“I would like to, just very briefly, indicate some of the steps that have been taken in the Congo pursuant to what is called the Lusaka agreement that suggests to me this is a situation worth supporting if at all possible. The countries involved, including the Congo itself, and some of the rebel groups, have signed this Lusaka agreement that set up something called a joint military commission. This joint military commission is committed to doing the job of actually enforcing the peace and making sure the parties withdraw from the other countries. In order to get to phase 2 of this operation that is now contemplated, a number of things had to happen. The joint military commission had to be created, and an initial 90 observers from the U.N. had to be deployed. That was done. But before the next phase goes forward--the one that involves some 5,500 U.N. troops and personnel--a number of other things had to happen as well. There had to be a functioning cease-fire. Although it has not worked at all times--and at the moment is in a little bit of trouble because of the conflict between Uganda and Rwanda--on the whole, it has succeeded in the last month. Second, it was essential that all these parties come together and pick one person as a facilitator of the process of national dialogue. After a number of efforts, they did so, by appointing President Masire, the former President of Botswana.”