FIRST JOINT VERIFICATION MECHANISM MEETING IMMINENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001852

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2014
TAGS: PREL RW CG MOPP
SUBJECT: FIRST JOINT VERIFICATION MECHANISM MEETING IMMINENT


Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROGER MEECE. REASON 1.5 (B/D)


1. (C) U.N. SRSG Bill Swing reported to members of the
International Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT)
October 4 that he is leaving Kinshasa later the same day for
travel to Kigali in preparation for convening the first
meeting of the Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) tomorrow,
October 5, in the border area. Swing noted that the Rwandan
delegation to this first JVM meeting will be headed by
Ambassador Richard Sezibera; the GDRC delegation will be
headed by Ambassador Antoine Ghonda.


2. (U) The JVM agreement was reached two weeks ago per terms
of reference prepared by the U.N. in New York following
receipt of proposed changes to an earlier draft from the
Kigali government. All Congolese officials with whom emboffs
have spoken have expressed satisfaction at getting the JVM
off the ground and operating.


3. (C) Comment: Ghonda is heading the Congolese delegation
in his new capacity as Ambassador-at-large in the Presidency.
He was appointed to the job a little over a week ago by
President Kabila following his removal as Foreign Minister by
opposition MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. Ghonda continues to
enjoy Kabila,s confidence, although Bemba and MLC leaders
are deeply unhappy by the new Ghonda appointment.
Officially, Ghonda has not yet resigned from the MLC.
President Kabila and just about all Congolese leaders have
been saying for months that they want to the JVM to start
operating as soon as possible, and this first meeting is
welcome in GDRC offices as well as by MONUC as a positive
move forward. End comment.
MEECE