Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE39146
2008-04-14 22:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

MONUC CONSULTATIONS, APRIL 15, 2008

Tags:  PREL UNSC KPKO CG 
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DE RUEHC #9146 1052220
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 142213Z APR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0000
UNCLAS STATE 039146 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO CG
SUBJECT: MONUC CONSULTATIONS, APRIL 15, 2008


UNCLAS STATE 039146

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO CG
SUBJECT: MONUC CONSULTATIONS, APRIL 15, 2008



1. USUN is instructed to draw upon the following elements
during MONUC consultations scheduled for April 15, 2008.

Begin Elements.

-We welcome the Twenty-Fifth report of the Secretary General
on MONUC, and commend the Secretary General, his Special
Representative, and all MONUC personnel's dedicated service
to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We
would also like to thank all troop contributing countries,
and applaud the outstanding service of former Special
Representative Bill Swing.

-We condemn the ongoing violence in the Kivus, and the
deterioration of the situation in the provinces over the past
months. We welcome MONUC,s increased presence in the area to
address the situation, but we regret the circumstances that
required MONUC,s redeployment. The U.S. is hopeful,
however, that the two statements of commitment for North and
South Kivu will facilitate a ceasefire, the disarmament,
demobilization, and reintegration process, as well as the
return of refugees and internally displaced persons.

-The U.S. supports the relocation of MONUC,s disarmament,
demobilization, repatriation, resettlement or reintegration
section to Goma, but we are concerned with the overall slow
progress of implementation of these programs, and emphasize
that armed groups must turn themselves in to Congolese and
MONUC authorities. The U.S. recognizes, however, that there
have been positive steps forward. The signing of the Nairobi
Communiqu, and the passage of Resolution 1804 address the
situation of foreign armed groups in eastern DRC, and have
led to a renewed focus on disarmament, demobilization,
reintegration and resettlement or repatriation, which is an
important factor for achieving benchmarks. In this regard,
we commend the efforts of the Government of the DRC, Rwanda,
international partners, and MONUC for their involvement in
these historic processes.

- We congratulate the Government of the DRC and all parties
to the Goma Agreement on the official start of its
implementation phase. We welcome the launch of the joint
technical commission on peace and security, and view it as a
significant step towards the consolidation of peace,
extension of State authority, termination of the involuntary
displacement of civilians, and a reduction in human rights
abuses.

- The U.S. agrees that the full extension of State authority
throughout the DRC is an essential step towards stability,
and we note that a substantially strengthened Congolese Army
(FARDC) is critical to achieving this goal. We congratulate
MONUC for the conclusion of basic training programs for FARDC
integrated battalions, and welcome the addition of more and
enhanced classes.

- We thank MONUC for its efforts in monitoring ceasefires,
and for its work in providing security for the delivery of
humanitarian assistance and for the return and reintegration
of refugees and internally displaced persons.

-The U.S. acknowledges that the Secretary General has seen
little progress in security sector reform, and emphasizes
that it is a key benchmark. The convening of a roundtable in
February by the Government was a positive development, but as
was stated in the Secretary General,s report, the Congolese
government must do more to address management of the defense
sector. We do, however, commend the progress that has been
made on police sector reform, and thank MONUC for its efforts
here.

-We express our ongoing support for MONUC,s assistance with
the conduct of orderly and credible local elections, and hope
that we do not continue to see a delay in the electoral
process.

-The U.S. deplores the violence taking place in Bas-Congo.
We urge restraint and reconciliation, and recognize the
increased role MONUC has been playing in the province. We
are also greatly alarmed by the surge in violent crime in
Kinshasa and other provinces.

-The U.S. abhors the sexual and gender violence, the
arbitrary executions, acts of rape, torture, and other
degrading treatment that elements of armed groups, including
FARDC, are inflicting upon Congolese society. We condemn the
state of virtual impunity for these serious offenses, and
stand ready to welcome the United Nations accelerated common
action plan to combat sexual and gender-based violence.

-We are troubled that the Secretary General notes in his
report that the humanitarian situation in the DRC &remains
bleak.8 The U.S. emphasizes that forced recruitment and
re-recruitment by armed groups, and harassment of
humanitarian workers and human rights advocates is
unacceptable.

End Elements.
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