Goma Report February 21 - Little progress in talks with

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000185 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO CG SUBJECT: Goma Report February 21 - Little progress in talks with government and CNDP ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Meetings February 20 in Goma made little progress in breaking the current impasse between government and CNDP on implementing the Kivus Conference's Acte d'Engagement. Vice Admiral Etumba, the government's chief representative, signaled possible willingness to increase CNDP representation on the various commission, but was angry at the lack of progress and the CNDP positions. CNDP agreed to draft input for a second decree on the Technical Commission, and agreed to consult with headquarters on other points raised by international facilitators. MONUC Force Commander Gaye warned Etumba that FARDC armor which had arrived at Beni should move no further. End Summary. -------------- Etumba: Part I -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The series of discussions involving government, CNDP and international facilitators began February 20 with a meeting called by FARDC Naval Forces chief of staff Vice Admiral Didier Etumba with international facilitators. It started off calmly, with Etumba addressing the CNDP's concerns. The government, he said, could not change the Amani decree signed earlier by President Kabila. It was a program created by a sovereign government to bring life in the two provinces back to normal. He called CNDP allegations of ceasefire violations by the 2nd Integrated Brigade "gross lies" and another obstacle created by the CNDP. ¶3. (SBU) Etumba downplayed the declaration issued by the Congolese and Ugandan defense ministers January 30 in Beni which had so incensed the CNDP by citing it as a "negative force." He stated that the Amani decree had superseded the declaration legally and temporally and the term "negative forces" would not be used again. He reiterated the government's willingness to issue a second decree, complaining that CNDP had still not given it anything "concrete." Significantly, regarding autonomy, he indicated that although they were all "partners in peace" regardless of military strength or position, the government could perhaps give the CNDP additional representation on the Commission, say 25 or 28 per cent of total seats, and, at the lower levels, 35 per cent. -------------- GDRC requests -- and an angry Etumba -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Etumba made five requests of international facilitators: -- daily joint meetings with the CNDP so they won't "play games;" and -- minutes of the meetings to be signed by all; he also asked the facilitators to: -- play a more active role, -- ask the CNDP to be more concrete, and -- ask both sides to refrain from raising issues already decided. ¶5. (SBU) Etumba presented these points calmly, but became agitated and angry when asked about the structure of the Commission. He rejected the facilitators' conclusion that that there was not much difference between the positions of the two sides, and that there was legal "flexibility" to come together. In a great show of pique and bombast, he raised his voice and launched into a harangue, ending by saying that "he wouldn't kill himself" just to please the CNDP. -------------- CNDP agrees to draft text for new decree -------------- ¶6. (SBU) By contrast, international facilitators' February 21 meeting with CNDP was restrained. MONUC-Goma Head of Office Alpha Sow conveyed a series of points agreed by the facilitators in a non-paper, and encouraged CNDP to come forward with a new draft decree. He firmly told CNDP that the government would not accept the 40/60 split in the make-up of the Technical Commission because it was irrelevant, i.e. the Commission must agree to act by consensus. ¶7. (SBU) CNDP representatives responded that the government's position did not allow for much room to maneuver and that a draft decree was the only place they could now work. "Either we accept Amani, or we have to renegotiate the Acte," said one; it was "the blood of our brothers" and their defeat of a FARDC force of 25,000 that had won CNDP the right to be at the table and be treated as equals. Facilitators assured CNDP that the government was showing some flexibility, had made some concessions, and remained committed KINSHASA 00000185 002 OF 002 to the process. CNDP said they would provide draft input for a new decree within a few days and ask for guidance on other points made by Sow. -------------- Etumba: Part II -------------- ¶8. (SBU) International facilitators notified Etumba and his team later than afternoon of the results of the CNDP meeting. Etumba responded, "There's nothing new. There's a lot of work to do and the train hasn't even left the station." He said angrily that "we don't like being taken for imbeciles," stressing again that "they won't get everything from us, at least not from me." -------------- Gaye warns Etumba -------------- ¶9. (SBU) SRSG chief of staff John Almstrom provided a readout late in the day of a meeting between Etumba and MONUC Force Commander General Babacar Gaye. Gaye told Etumba that MONUC was aware of movements of FARDC armor into Beni. He said that these movements must stop. Almstrom reported Etumba said they would not be moved further, noting "we know what condition our army is in." Almstrom said that Gaye also discussed the delay in getting the Technical Commission up and running, and the need for agreement on "humanitarian gestures" to ease the suffering of the population. Gaye said that MONUC would be creating additional security zones to promote security and give the IDPs confidence to return home. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Government and CNDP negotiators are growing increasingly frustrated and remain suspicious of each other. Where the government sees a CNDP unwillingness to provide "concrete proposals" and attempts to derail the process, CNDP sees government efforts to control the process through the preemptory Amani decree and a concerted campaign to dictate the structure of the Technical Commission. End comment. GARVELINK