UPDATED REPUBLIC OF CONGO RESPONSE - 63RD UNGA, HIGH-LEVEL

UNCLAS BRAZZAVILLE 000233 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/RSA HALDEMAN DEPT FOR AF/RSA BARLERIN IO/UNP FOR DOUGLAS SUN NSC FOR MCDONALD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP UNGA KSEP SUBJECT: UPDATED REPUBLIC OF CONGO RESPONSE - 63RD UNGA, HIGH-LEVEL ATTENDANCE AND REQUESTS FOR MEETINGS REF: BRAZZAVILLE 204;STATE 72078;STATE 83059 ¶1. (SBU) This reftel provides an update to Reftel A regarding GROC attendance at the 63rd UN General Assembly: ¶A. ATTENDANCE OF THE HEAD OF STATE -- President Sassou-Nguesso has no plans to attend ¶B. ATTENDANCE OF THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT -- Head of Government will not attend ¶C. ATTENDANCE OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER -- Foreign Minister Basile Ikouebe -- Foreign Minister and entire delegation will depart Brazzaville on Monday, 15 September, with an expected arrival in New York on Tuesday, 16 September -- Foreign Minister Ikouebe will return in early October 2008 (after ten days at the general debates) -- spouse will not attend -- interpretation services have not been requested ¶D. ATTENDANCE OF OTHER VIPS -- Michel Ngakala High Commissioner (responsible for the re-insertion of ex-combatants) -- Maganga Boumba, Itinerant Ambassador, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister of Foreign affairs -- Gisele Ngondo, Itinerant Ambassador -- Rubin Adouki, Director of Legal Affairs -- Jean Didier Clovis Ngoulou, Head of Political, Legal, and Security Division (to the UN) -- Poupina Gisele Gantsoua Ompiel, Attachi to the Cabinet Minister -- Jean Christophe Yombo, Head of Communication Projects, Ministry of Plan -- Marcel Mabiala, Head of Animation and Training, Ministry for the Promotion of Women -- Joseph Mbossa, National Coordinator for the Disarmament Program -- Cornilie Adou Ngapi, Director of Womens' Integration and Development -- Joseph MAkosso, Director of Cooperation (to the UN),Ministry in Charge of Cooperation and Humanitarian Action All VIPS plan on arriving in New York on Tuesday, 16 September, and returning to the Republic of Congo in mid-November 2008. No/no members of the delegation will be accompanied by their spouses; no interpretation services have been requested. ¶E. ATTENDANCE OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR IO AFFAIRS -- Appolinaire Dingha, Head of the Section for International Organizations and Special Affairs -- will arrive in New York with the entire delegation on Tuesday, 16 September, and return to the Republic of Congo in mid-November 2008 -- spouse will not attend -- no interpreting services have been requested GREGG