BRAZZA IN BRIEF SEPTEMBER 24 2007

UNCLAS BRAZZAVILLE 000393 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL PINR PHUM SCUL MARR CF SUBJECT: BRAZZA IN BRIEF SEPTEMBER 24 2007 ¶1. (U) RSG Global Coffey Mining, a London-South African-Australian mining consulting agency will coordinate and direct the 5,000-meter drilling for iron ore in the Zenaga region of RoC, the first phase of which is scheduled to be completed by December 2007. In the short time since the license was approved (May 2007),a satellite connection for communications with London has been installed, the local airport has been improved to meet civil aviation standards, a heliport has been added, and a base to house 30 permanent personnel has been completed. A railway system for transporting the iron ore from Zenaga to Pointe Noire is being discussed. Robert Crae, Mining Projects Development (MPD) Congo SA, stated that the mining of iron in Likoumou has the potential to become a world class project. ¶2. (U) Niciphore Fylla de Saint Eudes, Director General of Saris-Congo, announced that due to the lack of rain this past year, sugar yield which had been estimated to be 68,400 tons to date has only reached 50,300 tons, resulting in a loss of US$13 million to the company. A plan to reduce expenses has been implemented and Fylla announced that dismissal of workers would be avoided. ¶3. (U) Justin Koumba, President of the National Assembly, met with Jean Baudouin Mayo Manbiki, Director of Cabinet of President of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to reinforce the bilateral co-operation between the two Congos, specifically the two Parliaments. ¶4. (U) Donald Emerant, Director General of the Congolese-based Texaco SA announced that the name of the operation has been changed to Chevron Congo SA. "This change is intended to give a clear, strong and single image of our company throughout the world. We will have a new logo which is a reorganized and refreshed version of the red and blue Chevron," said Mr. Donald Emerant. ¶5. (U) Erkki Nghimtina, a representative of the Namibia Ministry of Mines, will meet with RoC Minister of Mines and Geology Pierre Oba and the Congolese Prime Minister Isidor Mvouba to reinforce bilateral commercial and research agreements that were presented by the two Presidents of the countries this past year. ¶6. (U) According to the Congolese media, the price of bread might increase due to the rise in the price of a sack of flour from 16000 cfa to 23000 cfa. The Baker's Syndicate, who say this is not profitable for them, has voiced strong objections. ¶7. (U) Marie Evelyne Petrus Barry, Director, United Nations Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, was in Brazzaville to promote the rights of the handicapped in accordance with the provisions of Convention on the Rights of Handicapped. During a press conference, Mrs. Petrus Barry said that the situation in which handicapped people in Central African States live is deplorable: they are deprived of their right to receive an education, to find work, to receive information and to receive quality medical care. ¶8. (U) Jean Daniel Ovaga, the director of a private clinic Securex, met with Quinton Van Rooyen of Namibia Medical Investment to sign an agreement in which Namibia will supply Congo both equipment and medical assistance in the threatment of asthma and rheumatism. The Namibian company will provide Secure with Immunox to support the body's resistance to infection and promote a healthy immune system. ¶9. (U) Fidele AKAMA, director of the cabinet of Minister of State, Attorney General, chaired a national workshop to implement the Organization for Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). This workshop, organized by the Ministry of Justice will assess the effectiveness of the implementation of OHADA regulations in government, public and private enterprises. WEISBERG