CONGO: "ROADMAP" TO A NEW RELATIONSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000810 FOR AF/C - DIRECTOR HELEN LA LIME FROM BILL SWING E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2010 TAGS: PREL PGOV CG SUBJECT: CONGO: "ROADMAP" TO A NEW RELATIONSHIP CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D) -------------- ¶1. (C) "NEW WINE IN NEW BOTTLES...?" -------------- IT WOULD BE IN OUR POLICY INTERESTS TO COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING EARLY IN BOTH THE NEW WASHINGTON AND KINSHASA ADMINISTRATIONS ON WAYS AND MEANS TO PUT US/CONGO (DRC) RELATIONS ON A NEW FOOTING. IN THIS REGARD, THE ROADMAP, AS PROPOSED, IS DESIGNED TO CREATE MOMENTUM IN THE LUSAKA PROCESS. IN SO DOING, THE POLITICAL WILL AND CAPACITY OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA TO UNDERTAKE A PROGRAM OF PEACE, NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND ECONOMIC REFORM WILL ALSO BE PUT TO A TEST. CLEARLY, OUR ABILITY TO MOVE TO A NEW LEVEL IN OUR RELATIONS WILL DEPEND ON THE DRC'S COMMITMENT TO PROGRESS ON BOTH THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL TRACKS OF THE LUSAKA AGREEMENT. OUR APPROACH HAS BEEN TO GROUP THE POINTS ALONG THE ROADMAP ACCORDING TO DEGREES OF DIFFICULTY IN IMPLEMENTING RATHER THAN THE MORE CUSTOMARY CATEGORIES OF SHORT-, MEDIUM-, AND LONG-TERM. SEVERAL OF THE MEASURES HAVE BEEN RECENTLY PROPOSED IN MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT KABILA AND, AS SUCH, ARE ALREADY UNDER CONSIDERATION IN WASHINGTON. -------------- ¶2. (C) ROAD MAP TO BUILD A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH DRC -------------- ¶A. STRAIGHT FORWARD -------------- -- DISPATCH SENIOR BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TO KINSHASA TO FOLLOW UP PRESIDENT KABILA'S FEBRUARY 1 VISIT TO WASHINGTON WITH A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO EXPEDITE THE LUSAKA PROCESS AND A DESIRE TO STRENGTHEN OUR BILATERAL TIES. -- PRESS FOR JMC AND JPC TO BE MOVED FROM LUSAKA TO THE DRC. AS AN INDUCEMENT, OFFER AN ADDITIONAL U.S. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE JMC. -- CENTRALIZE HENCEFORTH AT EMBASSY KINSHASA PHONE CALLS TO (AND OTHER CONTACTS WITH) REBEL LEADERS (BEMBA, ONUSUMBA, ET AL) IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE MIXED OR FALSE SIGNALS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE. (THIS WOULD RECTIFY THE CURRENT PERCEPTION THAT OUR POLICY IS BIFURCATED -- WITH THE EMBASSY DEALING WITH THE CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT AND WASHINGTON -- OR OUR EMBASSIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES -- WITH THE REBELS.) -- OFFER TO ASSIST PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA IN THE TRAINING OF A PROFESSIONAL "CLOSE-IN" PROTECTION TEAM. -- RESPOND POSITIVELY TO PRESIDENT KABILA'S REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN COMBATING CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT. IN ADDITION TO MAKING AVAILABLE EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION ON US ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS AND MECHANISMS, USE GREAT LAKES JUSTICE INITIATIVE (GLJI) FUNDS TO ASSIST THE GDRC IN SETTING UP AN "ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT" OFFICE. -- COMPLETE BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE AND REMOVAL OF ALL SPENT AND FRESH NUCLEAR FUEL RODS FROM THE NUCLEAR REACTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KINSHASA. -- INCLUDE THE CONGO (DRC) IN THE PRESIDENTIAL "LIFE" INITIATIVE ON HIV/AIDS. -- MAKE AVAILABLE DOD FUNDING TO COMBAT HIV/AIDS IN THE CONGOLESE MILITARY (FAC). -- ANNOUNCE FY-2001 US AID PROGRAM LEVELS. INCLUDE ADDITIONAL OFDA FUNDS FOR SEVERE ONGOING HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES IN THE CONGO. -- ESTABLISH A "PEACE FUND" FOR BUNIA TO SUPPORT LOCAL INITIATIVES TO RESOLVE THE HEMA/LENDU CONFLICT. -- SEND OPDAT (DOJ) DIRECTOR CARL ALEXANDER TO KINSHASA FOR INITIAL EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS ON JUDICIAL REFORM, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE FUTURE TRAINING OF MAGISTRATES (GLJI) ONCE LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED. -- ENSURE THAT THE PROMISED U.S. CONTRIBUTION OF $1 MILLION IS AVAILABLE TO FUND THE CONGOLESE NATIONAL DIALOGUE. ¶B. MORE DIFFICULT -------------- -- DEVISE A SCENARIO LINKING IMPLEMENTATION OF GDRC ECONOMIC REFORM TO ENHANCED COOPERATION. FOR EXAMPLE: (A) CONSULT WITH GDRC TO CREATE A PROGRAM THAT WOULD CLEAR ARREARS, LIFT BROOKE SANCTIONS, AND REMOVE OTHER IMPEDIMENTS TO GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT BILATERAL AID TO THE DRC; (B) ANNOUNCE THAT ADOPTION OF A SHADOW IMF PROGRAM WILL TRIGGER USG PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD BANK CONGO TRUST FUND; (C) SIGN AN OPIC AGREEMENT AFTER THE GDRC ADOPTS A REVISED INVESTMENT CODE, AND (D) SEND A STATE/TREASURY TECHNICAL MISSION TO CHART A PLAN (IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GDRC) FOR CONGOLESE QUALIFICATION FOR HIPC DEBT RELIEF. -- URGE WORLD BANK PRESIDENT JAMES WOLFENSOHN AND IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR HORST KOHLER TO INCLUDE A BRIEF STOP IN KINSHASA DURING THEIR FORTHCOMING VISIT TO BAMAKO, ABUJA, DAR ES SALAAM, AND NAIROBI, FEBRUARY 18-25. -- COORDINATE MORE CLOSELY WITH THE FRENCH. IN SO DOING, (A) EXAMINE THE FRENCH PROPOSAL TO DEPLOY UN PEACEKEEPING TROOPS AT THE BORDER BETWEEN THE CONGO AND RWANDA, WHICH THE FRENCH VIEW AS THE "HEART OF THE PROBLEM"; AND (B) CALIBRATE US SUPPORT FOR THE FRENCH DEMAND THAT A "DATE CERTAIN" BE SET FOR RWANDAN/UGANDAN TROOP WITHDRAWAL IN RETURN FOR FRENCH SUPPORT FOR DDRR OF EX-FAZ/INTERAHAMWE -- ALL THE WHILE AVOIDING ANY LINKAGE BETWEEN THE WITHDRAWAL AND "NEGATIVE FORCES" ISSUES. -- INSIST THAT ALL PARTIES RETREAT TO POSITIONS DECLARED IN KAMPALA DISENGAGEMENT PLAN. (THIS WOULD REQUIRE RWANDA TO WITHDRAW FROM PWETO.) INSIST THAT MONUC DEPLOY TO PWETO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY. -- PRESS THE GDRC THAT THE KINSHASA OFFICE OF NATIONAL DIALOGUE FACILITATOR MASIRE SHOULD BE RE-OPENED. ¶C. DIFFICULT -------------- -- INCLUDE CONGO (DRC) ON ANY SECSTATE VISIT TO AFRICA. -- STRONG DEMARCHE TO RWANDA AND UGANDA FOR ACCELERATED WITHDRAWAL OF THEIR TROOPS. -- OFFER DOD REIMBURSABLE AIRLIFT SUPPORT FOR MONUC DEPLOYMENT. -- FREEZE IMET AND E-IMET FOR RWANDA AND UGANDA UNTIL THEIR TROOPS WITHDRAW FROM THE DRC; ONCE TROOP WITHDRAWAL IS ACCOMPLISHED, DEVELOP BALANCED IMET PROGRAM FOR THE GREAT LAKES SUB-REGION TO INCLUDE THE CONGO (DRC) AS IT SEEKS TO RE-STRUCTURE ITS ARMED FORCES. -- PROPOSE US-FUNDED FIVE-YEAR DOJ/ICITAP POLICE TRAINING PROGRAM. -- SUPPORT A CALL FOR REPARATIONS BY RWANDA AND UGANDA FOR LIVES LOST AND PROPERTY AND INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED DURING THREE SEPARATE INSTANCES OF FIGHTING BETWEEN UGANDAN AND RWANDAN REGULARS IN KISANGANI IN 1999 AND 2000. WALKLEY