LIBREVILLE A NON-EVENT

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008513 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CG SUBJECT: LIBREVILLE A NON-EVENT REF: KINSHASA 8492 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. PRESIDENT KABILA RETURNED TO KINSHASA ALMOST AS SOON AS HE HAD ARRIVED IN LIBREVILLE, APPARENTLY HAVING ACHIEVED HIS GOAL OF MAKING A "GOOD FAITH EFFORT" TO MEET WITH THE OPPOSITION. NO BONA FIDE INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL OPPOSITION FIGURES APPEARED FOR THE GDRC-ORGANIZED "PRE-DIALOGUE" MEETING, AS THEY CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT THE DIALOGUE MUST FALL WITHIN THE LUSAKA FRAMEWORK AND INCLUDE FACILITATOR MASIRE. ¶2. IN AN OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE, THE GDRC ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAD TASKED PRESIDENT BONGO AND THE GABONESE GOVERNMENT WITH MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CONGOLESE OPPOSITION. CLARIFYING HIS ROLE, PRESIDENT BONGO DENIED THAT HE HAD REPLACED MASIRE AS FACILITATOR OF THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE. ¶3. UPON HIS RETURN TO KINSHASA, KABILA MET WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE OF ZIMBABWE, PRESUMABLY TO DISCUSS THE MILITARY SITUATION IN LUBUMBASHI AND PWETO. EMBASSY DOES NOT YET HAVE A READ-OUT ON THIS MEETING. SWING