CONGO/B: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHES AND TIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001033

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C - MADEEHA ASHRAF and AF/RSA
DEPT FOR EB/TPP/ABT/ATP - PATRICK HUDAK
DEPT FOR IO/T - WINNIE ROBERTS
DEPT FOR EB/ESC/TFS - JLEY
DEPT FOR S/CT - TKUSHNER
DEPT FOR IO/PSC - BFITZGERALD
DEPT FOR NP/PPC - J SMITH AND M LANDWEBER
DEPT FOR G/TIP
NSC PLEASE PASS TO MRUPPERT
TREASURY PLEASE PASS TO JZARATE
OFAC PLEASE PASS TO RWERNER
USTR PLEASE PASS TO BETH LEIER
USDA PLEASE PASS TO RON LORD

PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OPRC KCRM KWMN PHUM KTFN EFIN ETTC PTER CVIS KVPR KPAO EAGR ETRD TBIO PARM MNUC KNNP KUNR PGOV AORC CF UNESCO KSCI UNSC
SUBJECT: CONGO/B: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHES AND TIP
REPORT

REF A: STATE 100368
REF B: STATE 102449
REF C: STATE 109147
REF D: KINSHASA 00977
REF E: STATE 109242
REF F: STATE 110046
REF G: STATE 111637
REF H: STATE 111657
REF I: STATE 114051


1. The following demarches were delivered on June 16,
2005, by the Ambassador and Econ/Cons Officer to
Ambassador Gregoire Kaya, Interim Secretary General of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).


2. Release of the 2005 TIP Report (REF A) - Ambassador
conveyed to Kaya that the 2005 TIP Report had recently
been released. She noted that although Congo/B was not
listed this year, TIP is an annual review and that the
government may need to take some steps now, such as
passing a law that would specifically prohibit
trafficking in persons. The Ambassador also raised the
issue of the isolated anecdotal rumors (as yet
unsubstantiated) of some in the Beninois community
using children, claimed as "family members," for labor.
The rumors say that the children work long hours and
are not attending school, even though the other
children in the family do. Kaya acknowledged that he
had not heard as much detail about the rumors as the
Ambassador had conveyed, but that he would be
interested in hearing more as the cases are
investigated. He did note that some older rumors
regarding somewhat similar issues in the Malian
community seem either to have disappeared or were
proved invalid. In closing, the Ambassador underscored
that without a more cohesive and aggressive laws
against trafficking in persons, that Congo/B may find
itself listed in the TIP Report as early as next year,
particularly as it continues to improve its post
conflict status.


3. Terrorist Finance List 72 (REF B) - The Interim
Secretary General accepted the information and

SIPDIS
expressed that his government supports efforts to
combat global terrorism. He responded that his
government has similar issues with terrorism in the
Pool region. The Ambassador touched on the difference
between domestic economic crime or internal quasi-rebel
activity and terrorism as a distinction between the
global war on terrorism (and those who support or
sponsor terrorism) and political or economic
instability in Congo/B. Kaya reiterated support for
the global war on terrorism, but persisted in
characterizing the former Ninjas in the Pool region as
terrorists or as creating terror for his government.


4. Implementing Raw Sugar Tariff Rate Quota (REF C & D)
- As reported in reftels, the Ambassador, with
Econ/Cons Officer, delivered the Congo/B sugar
certificates on May 27(see REF D concerning the
delivery). Comment: the Embassy is concerned that the
bilateral assistance provided to Congo/B under the
American Sugar Program may not be benefiting the
country's treasury and has, therefore, requested
accounting to show the extent to which this assistance
is actually benefiting the ROC.


5. UNESCO Bioethics Declaration (REF E) - The Interim
Secretary General said that the head of Congo/B's

SIPDIS
delegation would be leaving the following day and that
he would pass along the information on the USG
position.


6. UNSCR 1540 (REF F) - Kaya said he was unable to
confirm whether Congo/B was working on the report or
what its status was. In fact, he was rather uncertain
about the status of the report, but did agree to look
into it and get back to the Embassy.


7. UN Reform: Promoting our Priorities (REF G, H, & I)
- Ambassador covered all talking points from the
reftels and delivered the non-paper for the demarche
(REF I) on the USG support for the creation of a UN
mechanism such as the Human Rights Council that would
be more aggressive than the Commission on Human Rights
at examining human rights issues. Kaya appeared pretty
well aware of many of the USG priorities, among them,
the priority towards greater emphasis on improved trade
and greater foreign investment as a key to sustainable
development. In recounting a local example, he
observed that aid by itself does not necessarily lead
to sustainable development and that strategies like the
ones suggested by the USG are likely to be more
effective. He also seemed to respond well to the
priorities for the Democracy Initiatives, a new Human
Rights Council, the creation of a Peacebuilding
Commission, and the adoption of a comprehensive
Convention on Terrorism. Despite his positive attitude
towards the subject of the demarches, he did not
comment substantively about the position of Congo/B
with respect to the reform package or the specific
priorities. He noted that he would review all of our
positions with the Foreign Minister when he returns to
ROC as they prepare for UNGA.


8. The Interim Secretary General Kaya also passed
along that President Sassou would definitely be going
to UNGA this summer. The MFA always tends to be out
front and positive on this issue. Post will need to
see closer to the start of the UNGA session whether
Sassou will travel this year or not.


9. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders.
MEECE