WAR OF THE DIP NOTES CONTINUES

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000916 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS CG RW SUBJECT: WAR OF THE DIP NOTES CONTINUES REF: KINSHASA 875 ¶1. (SBU) Post has received a copy of the GDRC's diplomatic note no. 130/12/CH/0894/2008, which was sent October 9 via MONUC to the Government of Rwanda (GOR) in response to the GOR's note of October 5 criticizing the GDRC for an "alliance" between the DRC's armed forces and the ex-FAR/Interahamwe/FDLR. Text of the GOR's dip note is at reftel. ¶2. (SBU) In this latest note the GDRC rejects GOR allegations, which it labels not only as a provocation, but also as a maneuver to justify the presence of Rwandan soldiers on Congolese territory. Additionally, the GDRC note contains accusations that the GOR and its armed forces are directly supporting Nkunda, as well as demands that they cease this support. ¶3. (U) Unofficial embassy translation of the GDRC note follows: Begin GDRC note The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Congo presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda and has the honor to acknowledge receipt of its note verbale No. 0233/09.01/CAB/MIN/08 of Sunday 05 October 2008. In this regard, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo wishes first to express its strong disapproval and profound indignation as to the allegations contained in the above-mentioned note verbale. Next, it totally refutes the unfounded assertions which not only are pure provocation but constitute a maneuver of the Government of Rwanda aiming to justify the presence of its troops on Congolese territory. This dilatory maneuver is unacceptable, as it seeks to distract the international community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which recently denounced the strengthening of positions of Rwandan troops on the border shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo and the military support of the Government of Rwanda to the insurrectional movement of Laurent Nkunda Mihigo. The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo accordingly invites the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to strictly respect its commitments freely engaged in through international and bilateral legal instruments listed in the above-mentioned note verbale, and to proceed without delay with the unconditional withdrawal of its troops currently fighting alongside rebels led by ex-General Laurent Nkunda Mihigo and cease all support to the movement of the latter. The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo wishes to see the Government of the Republic of Rwanda resolve as soon as possible to do the right thing to promote a return of stability in the region, which is critical to the development of both countries in particular and to the whole region in general. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Congo takes this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda the assurances of its highest consideration. End text of unofficial translation of GDRC note BROCK