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