EUFOR COMMANDER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DRC ELECTORAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 003888

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CG SF
SUBJECT: EUFOR COMMANDER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DRC ELECTORAL
PROCESS

REF: A. KINSHASA 998

B. LIBREVILLE 489


1. SUMMARY. European Union Force Commander in the DRC General
Viereck told a Pretoria think tank audience that he was
"optimistic" that the second round of the DRC elections would
proceed smoothly. Viereck emphasized that EUFOR's mandate is
limited to supporting MONUC, and the mission will end on
November 30. The fighting between Bemba's and Kabila's
forces August 20-22 has, paradoxically, created a more stable
environment since the two sides are now communicating more
openly. However, Viereck expressed concern about the recent
flow of weapons into Kinshasa and urged greater transparency
in the movement of arms. END SUMMARY.


2. Operations Commander for the European Force in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (EUFOR R.D.Congo) General
Karl-Heinz Viereck briefed approximately 50 South African
officials, think tank analysts and diplomats at the Institute
for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria August 13. Viereck, a
German national, also met with South African Great Lakes
Envoy Kingsley Mamabolo, senior SANDF military officials, and
the South African Independent Electoral Commission (IEC),
which is providing ballots for the second round of the
elections.


3. Viereck provided a general overview of the EUFOR
structure, which includes a strategic headquarters in
Potsdam, a force headquarters in Kinshasa, 2000 troops from
22 EU countries (800 troops in Kinshasa and 1200 in Gabon),
and a strategic reserve in Europe. In Viereck's view, the
integrated EU operation has worked very well, despite the
very short time to stand up the mission. The EU mission to
the DRC signaled European support for Africa and its peace
and security agenda.

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Limited Mandate
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4. Viereck stressed that EUFOR's mandate in the DRC is
limited to supporting MONUC. Specifically, EUFOR will aid
the electoral process, help secure the elections, rescue and
recover people in distress, secure the airport, and share
intelligence with MONUC. The mandate is not, he emphasized,
to rescue Europeans from the DRC if trouble breaks out. The
duration of the mission is limited to four months; it began
July 29 and will conclude on November 30.


5. Asked why EUFOR planned to end its mission at such a
sensitive moment -- just as the second round of elections
will likely be announced -- Viereck said he expected the
announcement of results in early November, well before
EUFOR's departure date. He also noted that MONUC will remain
after November 30, and that the EU would continue with its
police cooperation and security sector reform programs.

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Incidents of August 20-22
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6. The incidents of August 20-22, when the presidential guard
clashed with MDC leader Bemba's militia, served as a "wake-up
call," Viereck said. EUFOR expected violence, but was caught
off guard by the timing and particular location in the city.
Asked what triggered the violence, Viereck only said that
"someone" felt the need to show force on the streets and the
other side felt the need to respond. From a military point
of view, the events were a "contained, localized" dispute,
and the response, led by local police with MONUC and EUFOR in
support, went exactly as planned. Viereck said that EUFOR's
visible neutrality during the tensions has improved its image
with the population in Kinshasa.


7. Viereck said that the current military confidence-building
measures between Kabila's and Bemba's forces, supported by
MONUC and EUFOR, are working "very well." EUFOR and MONUC
now have much closer communication with Bemba's forces in
particular. Asked about how much control Bemba has over his

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forces, Viereck admitted that he could not say for certain.
He also noted that the key to stability is visible political
cooperation between the two presidential candidates, not
merely military coordination.

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Arms Flows
--------------


8. Viereck also expressed concern about recent flows of
weapons into Kinshasa, particularly the T-55 tanks. Even
though the government technically ordered the tanks some time
ago, Viereck said that the timing of their delivery and lack
of transparency has increased tensions and fed rumors. He
noted that tanks are not a real military factor in Kinshasa,
but rather are a "show of force."

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Optimistic
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9. Concluding his remarks, Viereck said he was "optimistic"
that the second round of elections would go smoothly. The
incidents of August 20-22 forced MONUC and EUFOR to work more
closely with the parties, particularly Bemba's militia. He
believes the confidence-building measures are working.
However, international pressure on the two presidential
candidates -- such as the recent visits of President Mbeki
and EU High Representative Solana -- remains critically
important in the period leading up to the elections.
Bost