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Annan lists agenda for mediation
over crisis
Published on January 31, 2008, 12:00 am
By Ben Agina And Agencies
Former UN chief, Mr Kofi Annan, has tabled a list of four issues
to be discussed during the mediation talks between President
Kibaki and ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga.
The Standard has learnt that top on the agenda is an immediate
action to stop violence and restore fundamental rights and
liberties.
The second agenda is immediate measures be taken to address the
humanitarian crisis, promotion of reconciliation and healing
process.
According to the third agenda, the protagonists are expected to
discuss how to resolve the political crisis.
Discussions would include power sharing, constitutional review and
reform of the Electoral Commission of Kenya.
The fourth agenda is the discussion of long-term issues and
solutions.
ODM wants the third agenda on the Annan list given priority
followed by talks on ending the violence.
Annan’s proposed agenda was titled: "Suggested Agenda for the
National Dialogue on the Resolution of the Political Crisis in
Kenya."
However, we have established that during their discussion of the
rules of engagement presented to them early this week, ODM wanted
the word ‘dialogue’ in the title substituted with ‘mediation’.
ODM has also given a time frame of one week for the mediation on
the crisis.
We have independently established that there would be another
mediator to sit in for Annan and his panel of mediators, former
Tanzania President Mr Benjamin Mkapa and Ms Graca Machel, should
either of them be away.
ODM was agreeable to the mediator (name withheld) as proposed by
Annan, but they would be happy if Annan stays around until the
crisis is settled.
ODM last night handed over their response on the rules of
engagement to Annan team’s to set off the mediation talks today.
By the time of going to press, PNU were yet to give theirs.
But hope for progress after Annan’s efforts were dampened by
developments at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa where
Kenya’s political crisis and mass killings are expected to be
discussed.
Kenyan Foreign Minister, Mr Moses Wetangula "tried on Monday to
act as if nothing had happened and presented a report on the
situation in his country," a summit attendant told reporters.
"Thankfully, some countries rose up, such as South Africa, and
requested the case of Kenya be examined together with the other
crises and conflicts in Africa," the official said.
The Africna Union’s offer to help in mediation were frustrated
when its chairman, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, was given an
icy reception.
The Government has maintained that Kenya was facing a crisis but
not a civil war and needed no foreign intervention.
"We still can handle that situation and have enough internal
capacities to solve the problem. There is no need for external
support," Wetangula said on Monday, during a ministerial meeting
ahead of the summit.
"The Kenyan crisis is a serious one and we cannot simply condone
what the Kibaki regime is trying to feed us," said one member of
the AU commission. "The Government will not be given a blank
cheque at this summit."
Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) dispatched its
secretary-general, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, to Addis earlier this
week to pressure the continental body and demand Kibaki be
excluded.
ODM has argued that inviting Kibaki would amount to an official
recognition of his re-election and undermine the mediation effort
freshly launched by Kofi Annan.
Various scenarios are being studied to give Kenya its rightful
place in the AU’s agenda without being perceived as favouring one
side or the other.
An extraordinary summit to which both sides would be invited could
be convened or a special delegation could be dispatched to Kenya.
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