KABILA AUG 20

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001571


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2010
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CG
SUBJECT: KABILA AUG 20

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROGER MEECE. REASON 1.5(b/d)



1. (C) Summary: I met privately with President Kabila on
August 20, the day after Kabila,s return from the SAC summit
and Burundi-related meeting in Dar es Salaam. Kabila
reiterated his absolute commitment to the transition process,
notably including democratic elections slated for next year.
He also observed, however, the necessity for adequate
security and other conditions to maintain progress.
Referring to last weekend,s massacre of refugees in Burundi,
I emphasized the importance of all parties avoiding
inflammatory rhetoric, and the need for cooperation among
domestic leaders and regional governments. In this regard, I
noted USG efforts to organize the next tripartite session in
Uganda, a subsequent planned visit of USG officials to
Kinshasa, and my August 18 phone call to VP Ruberwa, all
intended to support dialogue and overcome current tensions.
Kabila said he would send a delegation to the tripartite out
of respect for the USG, despite a lack of Rwandan cooperation
to form a Joint Verification Mechanism, but said that must be
the centerpoint of the Kampala meeting. He also welcomed the
Kinshasa visit of Washington officials, and my message to
Ruberwa. End summary.


2. (C) At my request, I had a one-on-one meeting with
President Joseph Kabila in his offices in Kinshasa on August
20, the day after his return from the SADC summit in
Mauritius, and his subsequent visit to Dar es Salaam to
participate in a meetings and a regional summit scheduled to
address Burundi issues. This was the first private meeting
and opportunity for a substantive exchange since I presented
credentials on August 3 .


The Transition Process Remains Central
-------------- ---


3. (C) Kabila began by reiterating his absolute support to
the transition process. He noted he had made three solemn
promises when he took office; ending the conflict,
establishing a national unity government, and holding
elections. He said that the country has reached the second
stage, the transition, and he is determined to move as
planned to the holding of free, fair, and democratic
elections next year. He expressed appreciation to the
international community and the USG in particular for the
support shown to the DRC peace process and the transition. I
reaffirmed the importance we attach to the success of the
transition and USG continuing support.


The Need for Security
--------------


4. (C) Kabila noted that there are of course conditions
needed for the successful holding of elections, notably
adequate security conditions. In this regard, he referred to
current tensions in the country and region. Picking up on
the point, I made specific reference to last weekend,s
attack on Congolese refugees in Burundi and reiterated points
from the State Department communique issued earlier in the
week. I emphasized that the USG is calling for all parties
to avoid inflammatory rhetoric to avoid further exacerbating
tensions, and that we also wished to reinforce the need for
dialogue and cooperation between governments in the Great
Lakes region. I offered congratulations for Kabila,s
decision to stop in Dar es Salaam, expressing the hope that
this provided an opportunity for contact with Burundian and
other regional leaders.


5. (C) Kabila summarized general agreements reached in Dar es
Salaam, including the labeling of the FNL as a terrorist
organization (Comment: All consistent with reporting from
Embassy Bujumbura and public statements. End comment).
Kabila also said that he had dispatched Army Chief of Staff
General Mbuki,a former RCD-Goma general, to Bukavu and the
plains of Russisi to track down and take action for any
reports of ex-FAR or other Hutu extremist elements in the
area. The Burundian President has asked about cross-border
cooperation, and Kabila had passed along Gen. Mbuki,s
telephone contact numbers to facilitate cross-border military
cooperation.


Next Tripartite Round
--------------


6. (C) In the same vein of regional contact, I noted that we
believe it of even greater importance to hold the next round
of the tripartite meetings between Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo
officials as soon as possible. While we had offered the
possibility of Congo as a venue, Ugandan officials had
indicated that they could not travel soon to Kinshasa, and we
therefore were proposing the dates of August 24 - 25 in
Kampala. I also reported that following that meeting, NSC
Sr. Africa Director Courville, DAS Yamamoto, and AF/C
Director Eastham plan to travel to Kinshasa August 26 for
meetings. I also noted AF/C Director Eastham plans to travel
to Bujumbura after Kinshasa.


7. (C) Kabila expressed disappointment that Kinshasa would
not be the venue for the next round. He quickly went to say,
however, that he would send a delegation to Kampala "out of
respect" for the U.S. Government, and per his previous
meetings with DAS Yamamoto and other officials. He said that
were it not for this respect, he would not be inclined to
participate given the Rwandan government,s obstructionism to
come to any agreement regarding the Joint Verification
Mechanism (JVM). Kabila noted that there had been an
agreement for a JVM accord prior to the next tripartite
round, whereas in fact there has been little to no progress.
The GDRC is ready to proceed immediately per terms proposed
by the U.N., and SRSG Swing has assured Kabila that MONUC can
implement its support within 48 hours. The JVM is central to
adressing cross-border tensions and fears, and is critical to
resolving problems. For example, there is widespread
suspision that Rwandans were involved in yesterday,s murder
of FARDC officers in Goma. If it already existed, the JVM
could be used to address the problem, but as of now there is
nothing. Kabila said therefore that he will be instructing
the GDRC delegation to ensure that the JVM is the item on the
agenda, adding that he found it difficult to see how progress
could be achieved on anything without some forward movement
on the JVM.


8. (C) Kabila said he welcomed the planned visit of the three
officials to Kinshasa and looked forward to meeting with them
on August 26.


The Missing Ruberwa
--------------


9. (C) I told Kabila that I had reached Vice President
Ruberwa (note: who represents RCD-Goma) by phone Wednesday
evening in Goma to convey a message reiterating the
importance of the transition process and government for the
future of the Congo, and specifically the interests and
security of peoples in eastern Congo. (note: Telcon being
reported septel). Kabila said that he had learned of
Ruberwa,s continuing absence from Kinshasa following the
Burundi refugee attack while he was already en route to the
summit in Mauritius. He had phoned Ruberwa with a similar
message, accepting Ruberwa's proposal for an international
inquiry, privately and publicly condemning the attack, but
affirming the importance of Ruberwa,s continuing
participation in the transition government. Kabila said he
has been unable since to reach Ruberwa, and Ruberwa has
apparently made no attempt to contact him. Kabila said he
welcomed the message that I had conveyed.


10. (C) I also reported that Ruberwa had encouraged me to
visit Goma. Kabila rhetorically asked why Ruberwa was trying
to get everyone to Goma. I said that Ruberwa ostensibly was
seeking to encourage greater personal knowledge of the
situation. With much of the RCD leadership gathered in Goma
right now, however, I also noted that travel to Goma would
inevitably be misinterpreted by many. Kabila concurred,
asserting that travel right now to Goma by the US Ambassador
would certainly send the wrong message, and would be a "very
bad idea."


11. (C) Kabila observed that Ruberwa had made "three or four"
errors in the past few days that would likely cost.
Nonetheless, he is a Vice President of the Republic, it is
important for him to return to Kinshasa to make his
contribution and play a role in the transition. I said I had
told Ruberwa that I hoped he would be in Kinshasa before the
planned visit of the three USG officials. Kabila echoed that
sentiment, saying that he believed it would be useful for the
American visitors to meet with Ruberwa in Kinshasa if
possible.


Sen. Kassebaum,s Visit
--------------


12. (C) I also reported that Senator Nancy Kassebaum-Baker is
planning to travel to the DRC, arriving on August 29. I
observed that this would likely cause scheduling problems due
to the expected arrival by President Mbeki at around the same
time, but expressed the hope that we could work out
scheduling. I explained that Sen. Kassebaum-Baker would be
traveling not as a USG representative, but as a member of the
Blair Commission. Kabila acknowledged the scheduling
problem, offered that perhaps Sen. Kassebaum could conduct
travel outside of Kinshasa at the beginning of her visit, and
hold meetings in Kinshasa later in the week. He indicated
that he would be pleased to meet with her following Mbeki,s
departure.


Comment
--------------


13. (C) Kabila showed his greatest emotion in discussing his
perception of Rwandan foot-dragging regarding the Joint
Verification Mechanism. This clearly has risen to the top of
the Congolese agenda for any discussion with the Rwandans,
and it is a safe bet that it will be difficult to get the
Congolese to discuss meaningfully other subjects without some
forward movement on the JVM. Kabila was also obviously
concerned about Ruberwa, critical of some of his actions and
statements, but reiterating the importance of Ruberwa,s, and
by implication the RCD,s, continuing engagement in the
transition process. Kabila appeared frustrated by Ruberwa,s
apparent unwillingness to talk, and indeed by the general
growing tensions along the Rwandan border and in the east in
general. He at least however kept the door open to further
talks on all fronts. End comment.


MEECE