MEETING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000715

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2017
TAGS: OFDP CG UN
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT DEBT

REF: A. USUN 00548

B. SECSTATE 112594

Classified By: Classified By: Amb Alejandro Wolff for reasons

1. 4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) As instructed, USUN/HC met DRC PermRep Atoki Ileka on
Monday, August 27, to discuss the almost $140K debt now owed
to landlord Vornado Realty Trust for the Mission's UN offices
at 866 UN Plaza, Suite 511. After listening to the concerns
of the Department and the warning that USUN/Department of
State might have to consider downsizing the mission, as it
did in 1998 when the mission had accrued tremendous debt,
Amb. Ileka described the problems he had experienced in
getting funding from Kinshasa. He stated that financial
support from his capital began to wane around the time of
last year's elections.


2. (C) Ambassador Ileka described the new government as
"elephantine" with sixty ministers, and said that it seemed
to have become difficult for the Minister of Budget and the
Foreign Minister (a former rebel leader) to focus on and
respond to his many requests for consistent monthly funding
for operations in New York and other foreign posts. Amb.
Ileka revealed that he has been forced to circumvent the
usual funding pathways and was now in direct contact with the
President's office on the issue. He said that he had
solicited a strongly worded letter from Vornado and added
that it would be helpful if the US Mission could send a
diplomatic note that contained the points expressed in the
meeting so that he could use it as further ammunition. He
wanted to impress upon his capital the need to resolve this
debt before the President and delegation arrived in NY for
the high-level session of the UNGA in late September. As per
Amb. Ileka's request, USUN/HC is currently preparing a
Diplomatic Note to send to the DRC UN Mission.
WOLFF