CODEL WOLF'S VISIT TO EASTERN CONGO AND KINSHASA

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008578 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP ASEC AFIN CG RW SUBJECT: CODEL WOLF'S VISIT TO EASTERN CONGO AND KINSHASA ¶1. EMBASSY KINSHASA POLITICAL CHIEF KENT BROKENSHIRE WILL PROCEED TO GOMA ON JANUARY 5 TO PREPARE FOR CODEL WOLF'S VISIT TO THE KIVUS. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE RECEIVING A PROPOSED ITINERARY FOR THE CODEL, AS WELL AS A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH WHOM CONGRESSMAN WOLF WOULD LIKE TO MEET WHILE IN THE DRC. IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY PREFERENCES, EMBASSY KINSHASA CAN PROVIDE A SCHEDULE OF POSSIBLE APPOINTMENTS FOR THE CONGRESSMAN'S CONSIDERATION. ¶2. GIVEN THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONGO WAR, EMBASSY STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE GOR NOT BE INVOLVED IN ARRANGING THOSE PORTIONS OF THE CODEL'S ITINERARY THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE CONGO. ¶3. EMBASSY KINSHASA HOPES EMBASSY KIGALI CAN PROVIDE CODEL WOLF WITH ACCOMMODATION EXCHANGE AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION FROM KIGALI TO GOMA. ¶4. AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE IS NO MONUC AIR SERVICE BETWEEN GOMA AND BUKAVU. COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, HOWEVER, REGULARLY MAKE THE SHORT FLIGHT. ONCE AGAIN, TO AVOID POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE FEELINGS IN A NUMBER OF QUARTERS, EMBASSY POLICY IS TO AVOID USING RWANDAN GOVERNMENT AIR SERVICES, AND RELY INSTEAD ON CONGOLESE COMMERCIAL CARRIERS. ¶5. SRSG MORJANE HAS ASSURED THE AMBASSADOR OF MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY AND SUPPORT CONCERNING CONGRESSMAN WOLF'S VISIT. MONUC NORMALLY FLIES FROM GOMA TO KINSHASA EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY. WE WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THE DATE CODEL WOLF PLANS TO REACH KINSHASA. ¶6. EMBASSY KINSHASA EXPECTS TO BE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH CONGRESSIONAL AIDE DAN SCANDLING WHEN HE RETURNS ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28. SWING