TRIPARTITE PLUS CHIEFS OF DEFENSE MEETING --

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001175 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KPKO RW UG BY CG SUBJECT: TRIPARTITE PLUS CHIEFS OF DEFENSE MEETING -- INTERNAL MEETING NOTES REF: KAMPALA 1486 KINSHASA 00001175 001.9 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) The Tripartite Plus Chiefs of Defense met in Lubumbashi on October 1-2 in special session to discuss joint operations, cross-border confidence building measures, and the reinstatement of the bilateral Rwanda-DRC Joint Verification Mechanism. The Joint Communique has been transmitted septel. The official report of the meeting issued at its conclusion follows. (Note: the meeting notes are marked "Restricted." Although this is not a formal USG classification, these internal notes are presumably not for general dissemination. End note.) ¶2. (SBU) Begin text: REPORT OF THE 3RD TRIPARTITE PLUS MEETING OF THE CHIEFS OF GENERAL STAFF LUBUMBASHI, OCTOBER 1-2, 2007 GENERAL ¶1. The Tripartite Plus meeting of the Chiefs of General Staff was held in Lubumbashi from 1st to 2nd October 2007, to examine and discuss the planned operations of FARDC/MONUC against the negative forces in DRC, as recommended in Kigali, Rwanda on 28 August 2007. The meeting was chaired by the Chief of General Staff FARDC-DRC, Lieutenant General Dieudonne KAYEMBE, In attendance were delegations from the Republic of Burundi led by the Chief of General Staff, Major General Samuel GAHIRO, the Republic of Uganda led by the Chief of the Defense Forces, General Aronda NYAKAIRIMA, and the Republic of Rwanda led by Chief of General Staff, General James KABAREBE. MONUC was represented by the Force Commander, Lieutenant General Babacar GAYE, while the facilitator was represented by Lieutenant Colonel Scott BRYSON, US Defense Attache in DRC. The meeting was held in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere. OPENING STATEMENTS ¶2. The opening remarks were made by the Chief of General Staff-FARDC Lieutenant General Dieudonne KAYEMBE. He welcomed the members of the Tripartite Plus, the MONUC Force Commander, and the facilitator to Katanga province and Lubumbashi in particular. He thanked the delegations for honouring the invitations and informed them that the main objective of this particular meeting was to examine and discuss the planned operations of FARDC and MONUC against the negative forces. ¶3. The leaders of the other delegations made remarks each stressing the need for concrete action against the negative forces and made briefs on the security situation and status of the negative forces in DRC. They thanked the host country for the warm welcome and cordial hospitality extended to them and their respective delegations. CLOSED SESSION ¶4. The Tripartite Plus Chiefs of General Staff and MONUC Force Commander met in closed session to discuss the following issues. a. The planned operations by FARDC and MONUC against the negative forces. b. To approve the structure and organisation of the Joint Planning Cell as proposed in Kisangani meeting of 22 September 2007; ¶5. After fruitful discussions, the following recommendations were made; a. Maintain pressure against the FDLR and other negative forces by targeting their centres of gravity. b. FARDC and MONUC to develop an operational plan against other negative forces similar to that against the ADF/NALU, PRA and LRA, to be presented in the next meeting of the Chiefs of General Staff. c. Strengthening and Operationalising the Joint Verification Mechanisms in order to effectively monitor, provide accurate and timely information on cross border situations. MONUC was KINSHASA 00001175 002 OF 002 tasked to develop the concept of this mechanism to be presented to the next Chiefs of General Staff meeting. d. Encourage meetings of other state structures such as Intelligence, Police, Immigration, and Local Administration in order to strengthen the mechanism of the Tripartite Plus. e. Develop a strategy of sensitisation with a view of separating the negative forces from the local populations. f. Recommend to the Ministerial Commission of Tripartite Plus that the Chiefs of General Staff be invited to the Ministerial meetings to present their recommendations and participate in their discussions. RESOLUTIONS ¶6. a. The Chiefs of General Staff agreed to formalise meetings of unit commanders operating along common borders at various levels in order to deal with border incidents and enhance mutual confidence. b. They also approved the structure of the Joint Planning Cell, its organisation and operationalisation. c. It was agreed that the next meeting be held in Kampala - Uganda in January 2008 on a date to be fixed by the Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF. Done at Lubumbashi, DRC on 2nd October 2007. (signed) The Chief of General Staff FARDC, DRC Dieudonne KAYEMBE Lieutenant General The Chief of General Staff of NDF, Burundi Samuel GAHIRO Major General The Chief of General Staff of RDF, Rwanda James KABAREBE General The Chief of Defense Forces of UPDF, Uganda Aronda NYAKAIRIMA General End text. BROCK