Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRAZZAVILLE393
2007-09-28 12:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brazzaville
Cable title:  

BRAZZA IN BRIEF SEPTEMBER 24 2007

Tags:  ECON PGOV PREL PINR PHUM SCUL MARR CF 
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VZCZCXRO0941
RR RUEHBZ
DE RUEHBZ #0393 2711236
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281236Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0765
INFO RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0845
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

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