CONGO/B: CHARGE'D'AFFAIRE'S INITIAL CALL ON

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001801 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C FOR ASHRAF FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE E.O. 12958. N/A TAGS: PREL CG UNGA PGOV SUBJECT: CONGO/B: CHARGE'D'AFFAIRE'S INITIAL CALL ON MFA AND PRESENTATION OF UNGA I AND UNGA II DEMARCHES REF: A) STATE 188927, B) STATE 188933 ¶1. (U) On October 27, Charge' d'Affaires, Mark Biedlingmaier and former A/CDA Sharon Rutherford paid an initial courtesy call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Aime' Clovis Guillond. This courtesy call was the first step to introduce newly arrived Charge' d'Affaires Biedlingmaier to Republic of Congo (ROC) officials and subsequently to the diplomatic community. Drawing on his extensive background with the recently completed NEC project in Luanda, CDA Biedlingmaier presented the Ambassador with basic drawings of Brazzaville's future NEC and explained the different stages of the project. ¶2. (U) Ambssador Guillond was delighted to receive the drawings and said that he stood ready to assist the newly arrived CDA with this and any other projects related to the Embassy. Guillond seized the opportunity to thank the CDA for all of the support the Embassy had given the ROC prior to the departure of President Sassou Nguesso for New York and the UNGA meetings. Our timely handling of several last-minute ROC requests for visas made for a smooth and successful trip for the President. ¶3. (U) Former A/CDA Rutherford took advantage of the courtesy call to present two demarches on UNGA I and II, outlining the salient points on each demarche. Drawing on the ROC's recent nomination as a non- permanent member of the United Nations, Security Council, the Ambassador said he would present our demarches to their representative in New York recommending that he defend the American position on these two resolutions. Comment: Since the nomination of the ROC as a non- permanent member on the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Guillond has been very receptive of our requests for demarches and has recommended support for our position on a number of resolutions. End of Comment ¶4. (U) Brazzaville Embassy Office - Biedlingmaier Meece