Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01KINSHASA810
2001-02-14 16:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

CONGO: "ROADMAP" TO A NEW RELATIONSHIP

Tags:  PREL PGOV CG 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 141642Z FEB 01
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8965
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)

------------------------------------
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