NAIROBI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - African leaders met in Kenya on Thursday to discuss security, governance and economic development in the continent's troubled Great Lakes region. The impoverished and volatile area, which includes Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Democratic of Congo (DRC), has been mired in violence since Rwanda's 1994 genocide, which triggered a string of wars and counter-wars. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, one of six heads of state at the two-day summit in Nairobi, hailed recent peace moves in the Great Lakes and called for donors to support the ambitious and costly plans under discussion. "There is great optimism about the achievements the region has recorded," he told delegates, highlighting landmark polls in Congo and relative stability in post-civil war Burundi. "I believe it is possible to bring to a close a very sad chapter in the history of our region characterised by conflict, insecurity and missed economic opportunities... Good things are now happening. We must seize the moment." The U.N.-backed conference aims to build on a security and cooperation deal agreed in Nov. 2004 outlining confidence-building measures including disarming rebels, tackling arms trafficking and cooperating to help millions of refugees. A pact due to be signed on Friday spells out five-year action plans devised since then, including a $225 million security package and programmes on good governance, social and humanitarian issues and economic integration. In addition to Tanzania and hosts Kenya, the presidents of Uganda, Burundi, DRC, Zambia and the Rwandan prime minister also attended the meeting.
