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