MEDIA PLACEMENT - PRESS RELEASE ON U.S. MILITARY

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001510 SIPDIS FOR INR/R/MR; AF/C; AF/PD; AF/PA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC KPAO PGOV PINS CG MAP SUBJECT: MEDIA PLACEMENT - PRESS RELEASE ON U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE DRC, JULY 21, 2004 ¶1. On July 21, 2004 PAS Kinshasa distributed a press release on the U.S. military assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The English text of the release is as follows: "The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the successful visit of a team from the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) to Kinshasa. This team visited Kinshasa from July 12-16th. The purpose of this visit was to plan a series of approximately four seminars to be held in the DRC over the next two years, beginning this October. DIILS promotes dialogue and exchange between the U.S. military and foreign military and civilian authorities in order to help develop professional and responsible armed services. DIILS helps develop military justice systems, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law as well as the key role of civil-military relations, including civilian oversight and control of the military. DIILS will also bring Congolese military and civilian personnel to the U.S. for training. The visit of the DIILS team marks a major step forward in the resumption of military cooperation between the DRC and the U.S. The USG is engaging in a number of other military educational and exchange programs with the DRC, and it looks forwards to an expanded military relationship with the DRC, reflecting the DRC's key role in bringing peace and stability to the Great Lakes region." ¶2. The French version of the press release appeared in the Kinshasa newspapers listed below. The general headline for these placements was "Assistance Militaire du Gouvernement Des Etats-Unis d'Amerique a la Republique Democratique du Congo" ("U.S. Military Assistance to the DRC"). a. The independent La Reference Plus, July 22nd edition, page 6. b. The pro-UDPS (opposition) Le Phare, July 22nd edition, page 3. c. The pro-PPRD (former government) L'Avenir, July 22nd edition, page 3. d. The pro-"Forces du Futur" (opposition) "Forum des As", July 22nd edition, page 4. e. The independent Le Potentiel, July 22 edition, page 3. f. The pro-PPRD Uhuru, July 23rd-25th edition, page 5. g. The independent La Prosperite, July 23rd edition, page 8. h. The pro-PPRD L'Observateur, July 23rd-25th edition, page 2. i. The pro-"Forces du Futur" (opposition) "Forum des As", July 23rd edition, page 2. j. The pro-opposition La Cloche, July 23rd-26th, and July 26th-28th editions, respectively page 6 and page 4. Meece