U.S. Is Optimistic After Powell's Meeting With Congo President
By JANE PERLEZ
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 - The new, young leader of the war-shattered Congo, Joseph Kabila, did the rounds of Washington today, a face among many at a Congressional prayer breakfast, a supplicant at the headquarters of the World Bank and the guest of corporate investors disappointed at the ruin of his country.
The main event of his crowded day was a scheduled session with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. But there was a surprise too: an impromptu, face-to-face meeting with his rival, the Rwandan leader, Paul Kagame, whose troops continue to occupy the eastern part of his country and whose support he must win if there is any chance of peace.
As he moved through his appointments, Mr. Kabila, 29, appeared to be a quiet figure, and in contrast to his corpulent father, Laurent Kabila, of modest build and demeanor.
Mr. Kabila, who came to Washington after stopping in Europe, is making his first trip abroad as president, evidently trying to improve Congo's image in the West and around the world. Some diplomats said it was rather brave of him to leave his capital, Kinshasa, so soon after the turmoil of his father's death, but said he must have felt relatively confident of his support.
Wherever he went officials said he spoke of peace and an interest in reviving accords calling for the departure of the armies of five African countries that have taken sides in the two-and-a-half-year Congo conflict. Such words had been heard before from his father, who was assassinated last month, after spending his last year blocking a cease-fire agreement, known as the Lusaka accords.
But after his 30-minute session with General Powell, a senior State Department official expressed optimism anew. The Congolese leader had "expressed a conviction to start the dialogue, carry out the Lusaka accords and then rebuild democracy," the official said.
In reply, General Powell stressed that Mr. Kabila needed to meet with other African leaders to build an atmosphere of trust and security that would permit the occupying armies to withdraw, the official said.
In his only public address of the day, Mr. Kabila spoke at a reception attended by executives of mining and mineral companies given by the Corporate Council on Africa, which promotes business ties between the United States and Africa.
In clear English, Mr. Kabila - who grew up in Tanzania, where English is spoken - promised to clear up past "misunderstandings" and appealed to business to return. The economy would be liberalized, he said, and he spoke of human rights and due process. But his huge country is without a functional government and basic services.
Seasoned hands at the reception, including Maurice Tempelsman, one of the leading American investors in Congo for several decades, until the early 1990's, received Mr. Kabila with warmth but with some warnings for him. "A businessmen is always accountable for the safety of his people and the security of his investments," Mr. Tempelsman said in a subtle message to Mr. Kabila.
Neither standard has existed in Congo in recent years, and the International Rescue Committee, a nongovernmental group working in Congo, says the war has resulted in 1.7 million deaths in two years.
On his visit, Mr. Kabila was accompanied by the governor of the Central Bank of Congo, Jean-Claude Masangu. They met with top officials of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The Congo has among the highest arrears to the fund, with $510 million in overdue debt, a spokesman said. At the World Bank, the Congo owes $288 million and has not received loans going on a decade, a spokesman said.
No new commitments were made at the international financial institutions, the spokesman said.
At the Congressional prayer breakfast this morning, Mr. Kabila shook hands with Mr. Kagame, and they later met at a Washington hotel.
Mr. Kabila will attend the Security Council of the United Nations Friday.
Mr. Kabila was trained in the Ugandan Army and then went to China for further training, an American diplomat said. He is believed to have met Mr. Kagame in 1997 when Mr. Kagame temporarily joined forces with Laurent Kabila.