DRC: DEMARCHES DELIVERED ON IRANIAN EXTREMISM AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001807 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV IZ IR CG SUBJECT: DRC: DEMARCHES DELIVERED ON IRANIAN EXTREMISM AND IRAQI REFERENDUM REF: A. STATE 199224 ¶B. STATE 199225 Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered October 31 reftel demarches and talking points (reftel B) to Ambassador Ngoy Lulu, Director of African and Middle Eastern Affairs at the DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When told of Iranian President Ahamdi-Nejad's remarks, Lulu said he shared USG concerns that such statements were irresponsible. As a member of the UN, the GDRC agrees that the sovereignty of all nations must be respected, he added. Lulu agreed that Ahmadi-Nejad's speech would certainly not advance the development of peace in the region, and was troubling given allegations regarding Iran's weapons program. He said he would forward the USG request for a public statement against Ahmadi-Nejad's remarks to the appropriate MFA authorities. ¶2. (SBU) PolOff and Lulu also discussed the October 15 Iraqi referendum (reftel A). Lulu said the GDRC viewed the peaceful vote as a positive development. He further recognized that, much as in his own country, democratic elections are but the first step in a longer transition process towards peace. MEECE