CONGO, BURUNDI TO EXCHANGE AMBASSADORS

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000259

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CG BY
SUBJECT: CONGO, BURUNDI TO EXCHANGE AMBASSADORS


1. (U) SUMMARY: Foreign ministers from Burundi and the DRC
signed a joint communique February 11 that calls for the
exchange of ambassadors, the sharing of security information,
for the DRC to support Burundi's application to join the
existing Congo-Rwanda-Uganda Tripartite. END SUMMARY.

Communique
--------------

2. (U) An official Burundian delegation led by Foreign
Minister Sinunguruza met in Kinshasa February 10 and 11 with
Congolese Foreign Minister Ramazani and other GDRC figures.
According to a joint communique issued February 11,
discussions focused on diplomatic and security issues, as
well as on "the future of the DRC-Rwanda-Uganda Tripartite,
of which Burundi is an observer." Highlights of the
communique follow (informal translation):

The two delegations reaffirmed their countries' "firm intent"
to,

A) in the diplomatic sphere:

--work to restore a climate of trust

--do everything to ensure that neither country's territory
could be used in any way as a sanctuary for "adventurers and
enemies of the DRC and Burundi"

--relaunch the Great Joint Commission, suspended since August
1988

--consolidate and reinforce bilateral relations through the
exchange of ambassadors

--negotiate and rapidly conclude a bilateral agreement
establishing modalities for consultation, dialogue and
assessment aimed at harmonizing positions on issues of common
interest at sub-regional, regional and international fora

B) in terms of security along the common border:

--create a climate of mutual trust through regular, permanent
information exchanges between the different security services

--stand up a joint verification and monitoring mechanism, in
accordance with the Bilateral Agreement on Normalization and
Security Cooperation between the DRC and the Republic of
Burundi

C) in terms of the DRC-Rwanda-Uganda Tripartite:

--after realization of the Bilateral Agreement on
Normalization and Security Cooperation between the DRC and
the Republic of Burundi, support the latter's joining the
Tripartite Agreement on Regional Security in the Great Lakes
Region


3. (U) According to the communique, the two parties had a
"fruitful exchange" on subject of the Great Lakes Economic
Community (CEPGL),and reaffirmed their countries'
willingness to "consider positively" this sub-regional
institution's future.


COMMENT
--------------

4. (SBU) The relationship appears much improved since August
2004, when in the aftermath of the Gatumba refugee camp
massacre, Burundian officials threatened to intervene
militarily in the Congo. If the two countries do exchange
ambassadors, Rwanda would be only country among the DRC's
eastern neighbors without diplomatic representation in
Kinshasa. (Uganda has a charge d'affaires in Kinshasa, but
not yet an ambassador.) END COMMENT.


5. (U) Bujumbura minimize considered.
MEECE