Robinson should start negotiations that would subsume the Kampala talks, and the Obama administration should follow the U.N. lead in appointing a senior-level envoy to the peace process and ensure that regional economic integration and security issues are brought to the fore of the process.

CNN: Congo's "Terminator" surrenders, what next for peace?

The U.S. and U.N. envoys should proactively back a root-and-branch Congolese reform process to address critical issues that undergird the conflict, from decentralization to army reform.

CNN: Congo's "Terminator" surrenders, what next for peace?

U.N. reform was a contentious issue in the yearly budgeting process prior to the enactment of Helms-Biden, with Republicans regularly slowing down appropriations for a number of international efforts, and refusing to sign off on dues payments until the U.N agreed to reforms.

CNN: Helms: U.S. will make massive dues payment to U.N.

Various U.N. resolutions, numerous shuttle diplomacy missions and the Oslo process have all been predicated on the land-for-peace proposition.

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