BELGIAN PLANS FOR SEPTEMBER 23-24 VISIT OF DRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002959

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2012
TAGS: PREL CG BE
SUBJECT: BELGIAN PLANS FOR SEPTEMBER 23-24 VISIT OF DRC
PRESIDENT KABILA


Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H Andrews,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) DRC President Kabila now plans to visit Brussels on
September 23-24, according to Belgian Special Envoy for the
Great Lakes Smets, who relayed the information during a
meeting with visiting U.S. Special Envoy Leader. The visit
comes at an "awkward" time for Belgium, Smets noted, adding
that the continuing effort to form a new coalition has
complicated preparations for Kabila's arrival. Despite the
timing, the Belgian team responsible for Congolese affairs
was pleased that Kabila had decided to invite himself since
it reflected a new willingness on Kabila's part to reach out
diplomatically.


2. (C) Kabila's last minute decision to arrive on September
23, rather than September 21, resulted from his equally last
minute decision to meet in Goma with senior military leaders.
Smets said Kabila has asked for a long list of appointments
on the day of his arrival, including with senior EU official.
The following day, Belgian PM Verhofstadt would host a
working breakfast with senior ministers (Foreign Affairs,
Defense, and Development Cooperation). Kabila intended to
depart at midday on September 24 after an audience with King
Albert II.


3. (C) The Belgians were pleasantly surprised that Kabila's
list of subjects to talk about was the same as their list:

-- The situation in the East;
-- Great Lakes Economic Community;
-- Uganda/Angola border demarcation;
-- Mineral extraction issues; and
-- "The fight against impunity," a subject added by the
Belgians.

The Belgians and the DRC leadership worked this agenda out
during the September 25-26 visit to Brussels of DRC FM
Nyamwisi and Kabila's chef de cabinet.


4. (C) The situation in the Kivus was clearly the most
important subject for discussion. Belgian leadership will
encourage Kabila to follow the diplomatic path as he deals
with the Eastern Congo situation. They believe Kabila's new
found interest in doing so reflects a realization of his
military vulnerability and political/diplomatic strength. A
further source of optimism (for the Belgian MFA at least) has
come from Kabila's recent statements acknowledging the
reasons behind the problems caused by Nkunda. Referring to
Nkunda, Smets noted that he believed the South Africans were
still willing to provide him with a comfortable exile.


5. (C) Other topics for the meeting were less immediately
critical, but still important. The border demarcation
question involved making preparations for a meeting in
Brussels of Congolese and Belgian experts on the colonial era
border of Congo. This gathering would take place in
mid-October. The discussion of mineral extraction would
involve an attempt by the Belgians to ensure "transparency"
in the workings of the commission Kabila established to
examine the validity of extant mining concessions. Smets
said the Belgian government was deeply concerned that a
recent Chinese agreement with the DRC was going to provide an
incentive for the DRC to pay for a road between Lubumbashi
and Zambia with mining rights transferred from their current
owners.


6. (SBU) Smets promised us a readout as soon as the Kabila
meetings concluded.
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