INSTRUCTION CABLE FOR USUN: CONSULTATIONS ON THE

UNCLAS STATE 154929 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL XA XF XW CG UG BY RW SUBJECT: INSTRUCTION CABLE FOR USUN: CONSULTATIONS ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION ¶1. This is an action cable, see paragraph 2. ¶2. USUN is instructed to draw from the following talking points during November 13 Security Council consultations on the Great Lakes Region: Begin talking points: -- The United States welcomes the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's proposal to eliminate the threat to peace and security posed by remnants of the former Rwandan Armed Forces and Interahamwe militia responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. We also welcome the Government of Rwanda's response to the Congolese proposal to disarm and repatriate these forces. -- We encourage both governments to continue consulting closely with each other and MONUC on a comprehensive plan to end the violence in the eastern Congo. We urge both states to convene immediately the Joint Verification Mechanism to assist in implementing the plan. The United States, as a friend to both countries, stands ready to facilitate discussions, help with implementation, and support their efforts to create a stable, peaceful, and more prosperous region. -- The ex-FAR and Interahamwe leaders must end their military activities and disarm and demobilize their forces. We call on all parties to respect UN prohibitions against providing them military or other support. -- The United States urges the Governments of Uganda and the DRC to ratify the Pact on Security, Stability, and Development signed at the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). We congratulate Burundi and Rwanda for having already ratified the Pact. -- The United States is encouraged that the Tripartite Plus members have agreed to normalize diplomatic relations, including the accrediting of Ambassadors, by September 30, ¶2008. The United States supports a Presidential level meeting among Tripartite Plus countries. -- The United States commends the Governments of the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda on their commitment to negotiate tripartite arrangements with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on the repatriation of the remaining refugees. -- The United States is concerned about the destabilizing role played by General Laurent Nkunda and his forces in the DRC. We support the Government of the DRC and MONUC in their efforts to disarm and reintegrate these negative forces. -- The United States strongly supports the African led peace talks in Juba between the Government of Uganda and the LRA and believes that the peace talks are not open-ended. LRA forces hiding in Garamba Park in the DRC must be disarmed. The DRC has made it clear that the LRA is not welcomed there. End points. RICE