CONGO/B: UNCHR DEMARCHE UPDATES

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000610

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

Department for AF/C, AF/RSA AND IO

FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM CF CU
SUBJECT: CONGO/B: UNCHR DEMARCHE UPDATES

REFS: A) STATE 49957 B) STATE 44494
(C) LEADER/SANDERS EMAILS 4/4-4/8/05


1. FOLLOWING UNCHR APRIL 4 DEMARCHE ON MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS (MFA) NUMBER TWO AMBASSADOR SERGE BALE, AMBASSADOR
EXECUTED ADDITIONAL DEMARCHES APRIL 5-8 WITH THE ACTING
FOREIGN MINISTER (MINISTER OF JUSTICE ENTCHA-EBIA);
PRESIDENTIAL PUBLIC RELATIONS COUNSELOR LEMBOUMBA (ALSO
PRESIDENT'S SASSOU DAUGHTER AND KEY ADVISOR); PRIME MINISTER
ISIDOIRE MVOUBA; AND VIA TELEPHONE TO FOREIGN MINISTER ADADA
WHO WAS IN ROME ATTENDING THE POPE'S FUNERAL. IN ALL
DISCUSSIONS, AMBASSADOR FURTHER PUSHED USG OBJECTIVES FOR A
CONGO/B ABSENTION AND A POSITIVE OUTCOME AT THE UPCOMING
UNCHR VOTE APRIL 14. IN ADDITION, ALL PARIES WERE PROVIDED
WITH COPIES OF THE TALKING POINTS AND RESOLUTION AS OUTLINED
REFTELS, AND AMBASSADOR ALSO STRESSED THE NEED TO AVOID A NO-
ACTION MOTION.


2. ALL INTERLOCUTORS APPRECIATED THE PROCEDURAL NATURE OF
OUR POSITION, NOTED THE HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTED
WITH THE SUBJECT OF THE RESOLUTION, AND HIGHLIGHTED THAT
PRESIDENT SASSOU WOULD MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISION ON THE
VOTE. AMBASSADOR ALSO COVERED POINTS DURING DEMARCHES THAT
POST PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR A/S NEWMAN'S CALL TO THE
PRIME MINISTER. EMBASSY EXPECTS AN OFFICIAL ANSWER ON THE
ROC'S POSITION EITHER APRIL 11 OR APRIL 12 AS TO WHETHER WE
CAN EXPECT AN ABSENTION.


3. COMMENT: MESSAGES DO NOT ALWAYS GET PASSED WITHIN THE ROC
GOVERNEMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER. SUGGEST WE ALSO KEEP
PRESSURE ON ROC REP IN GENEVA AND INFORM HIM THAT AN
ABSENTION IS SERIOUSLY BEING TAKEN UNDER ADVISEMENT.


4. BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE - SANDERS
MEECE