Congo/B: UNHCR - Demarche

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000601 SIPDIS SENSITIVE Paris for Africa Watcher Dept for AF/C, AF/RSA, and IO FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM CF CU UNCHR SUBJECT: Congo/B: UNHCR - Demarche REFS: (A) State 44494 (B) State (C) Leader-to-Sanders email ¶1. (U) Post was sent Department reftels only on April 1, and executed demarches at the first available opportunity April ¶4. For future UNCHR Collective cables please send to Kinshasa slugged "Pass to Brazzaville" since Post does not have access to either Department's unclassified or classified systems. ¶2. (SBU) Given that Foreign Minister Adada has been out of the country for three weeks, and is not expected back until the end of April, Ambassador met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) number two, Secretary-General Ambassador Serge Bale, to carryout demarches in reftels. Ambassador began with stressing the importance of the progress in the U.S.- Congo bilateral relations over the last several years and noted the number of global human values and principles where there was like-mindedness between our two countries. ¶3. (SBU) She then turned to the specifics of the demarches highlighting the points in reftels, stressing that the ROC see the procedural nature of the resolution. The Ambassador noted that the U.S. put great importance on Congo supporting the U.S. position, but would also put great importance and strongly encourage an abstention. She highlighted the other sponsors of the resolution, noted that the French were on board and had agreed to be helpful in both Paris and Geneva, and also explained that a "no-action" motion was equally unacceptable to us. Ambassador then urged the Secretary- General to reread the resolution several times to appreciate the procedural nature. ¶4. (SBU) After noting the history between the two countries and rereading the resolution as the Ambassador suggested, the Secretary-General said that he would meet with others in the Ministry and also consult with Minister Adada and the Presidency. Ambassador said she also had a request into the Presidency to see Public Relations Counselor Lemboumba (most likely April 5-6),and would be doing this demarche at several levels of the ROC Government stressing the importance of an abstention from Congo. Ambassador pushed him a bit harder on abstaining and the Secretary-General said, as he could see the procedural nature, he would do his best to encourage the Ministry team to move in that direction, but he could not promise given the close historical relationship. Ambassador asked for a definite answer back ASAP, and Bale said that he would seek to give a firm response o/a April 6. ¶5. (U) BIO Note: Ambassador Bale is a seasoned diplomat and the most senior person in the Ministry after the Minister. In the past, he has worked at the Congolese Mission in New York for several years, and also at their Embassy in Washington. He understands the importance of this issue to the USG. ¶6. (U) Comment: First and foremost this will be a Presidential decision. Post will provide reactions and feedback from the Presidency after next set of meetings. Foreign Minister Adada is on travel until end of April. Post also encourages the Department to engage ROC Representative in Geneva. On occasion there are misconnects between MFA and their missions abroad. ¶7. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders MEECE