(17 May 1997) English/Nat
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged Zaire's rebel leader to stop his advance on the capital Kinshasa and avoid a bloodbath.
Speaking in Moscow, Annan also said talks with the Russian President were fruitful, adding that he hoped Russia's role in U-N peacekeeping operations will increase.
Boris Yeltsin greeted the U-N Secretary-General with a warm handshake Saturday, the third day of Kofi Annan's visit to Moscow.
It is his first trip to Moscow since his appointment as Secretary-General earlier this year.
Yeltsin told him he was pleased with his election to the top U-N post and said Russia would support him in his work to reform the world body.
The Russian leader promised to intensify the country's cooperation with the organisation and the two men were also due to discuss U-N peacekeeping operations in the C-I-S (Commonwealth of Independent States).
Annan's trip follows a groundbreaking agreement struck between Russia and N-A-T-O last Wednesday over N-A-T-O's planned expansion into eastern Europe.
On his arrival in Moscow the Secretary-General said he hoped the accord would be acceptable to both sides.
Later Saturday Annan met journalists for a press briefing.
Speaking about the situation in Zaire where rebel forces have entered the capital Kinshasa, Annan appealed to rebel leader Laurent Kabila to avoid a bloodbath.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have not given up the hope of trying to get the parties to accept some sort of transitional arrangements and avoid bloody conflict in the capital city Kinshasa. I think some of us are old enough to remember what happened in the early sixties when Kinshasa, Congo in those days, went through that sort of crisis."
SUPER CAPTION: Kofi Annan, U-N Secretary-General
Zaire is on the verge of war after efforts to stage last-ditch peace talks between the rebel leader and Zaire's president Mobutu Sese Seko failed.
Annan urged the two warring sides to come together
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'm quiet hopeful that we'll be able to avoid bloodshed in Kinshasa and that we can convince Mr. Kabila and the alliance to form a broad-based government with other political elements participating in it. Once that is done, there will be time to prepare national elections."
SUPER CAPTION: Kofi Annan, U-N Secretary-General
Annan's visit to Moscow included meetings earlier with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov.
Talks also covered Russia's delayed ratification of the convention banning chemical weapons.
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