A/S FRAZER MEETS WITH DRC PRESIDENT KABILA

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 063593

PARIS FOR BOB KANADA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL KPKO ZF
SUBJECT: A/S FRAZER MEETS WITH DRC PRESIDENT KABILA


Classified By: AF/C Director Karl Wycoff for reasons 1.4B & D.


1. (C) Summary: In his meeting with A/S Frazer, DRC President
Joseph Kabila stressed the need to 1) expedite integration of
rebel troops; 2) accelerate FDLR repatriation to Rwanda; 3)
press Europe to deal with FDLR leadership in Europe; 4)
address the regional threat of LRA leader Joseph Kony; and 5)
provide assistance to Congo to deal with disarmament and
return of internally displaced persons. End Summary.


2. (U) A/S Frazer met with the President of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC),Joseph Kabila, on April 18, 2008
in New York. AF/C Director Wycoff, A/S,s Special Assistant
Fatuma Sanneh and AF/RSA John Kelley also participated in the
meeting.


3. (C) Kabila opened the meeting by communicating his
frustration with the slow integration process for rebel
leader Laurent Nkunda,s forces, adding he would &start
asking questions8 if the integration process was not
underway by June. Kabila emphasized Nkunda must leave the
DRC and said he had spoken with Ethiopian PM Meles, who said
Ethiopia was willing to take Nkunda.


4. (C) With respect to the former Armed Forces of Rwanda and
Interahamwe, known now as the Democratic Forces for the
Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR),Kabila said he will deliver a
strong message next week in Kisangani that FDLR who either
refuse to return to Rwanda or refuse to relocate well away
from the border area will face military action. He noted
that the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(FARDC),in cooperation with the UN Mission in DRC (MONUC),
are moving units into Eastern Congo to put pressure on the
FDLR. Kabila complained, however, that he was not confident
that all of MONUC,s partners could deliver on their
promises, singling out Belgium in particular. He
specifically urged EU member countries to take action against
FDLR leadership in Europe who still hold influence with the
FDLR in DRC.


5. (C) Kabila said he was satisfied with developments in
Ituri, noting its relatively calm atmosphere, and said he
expected a final resolution with the last remaining armed
group soon. Conversely, he compared North Kivu to a dormant
volcano.


6. (C) Kabila called Uganda,s opposition Lord,s Resistance
Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony a &bad fellow8 and said that
Ugandan President Museveni had asked him for access to an
airstrip in DRC. Kabila explained that he thought his
airstrip was not long enough, but said he would soon talk
again with Museveni to discuss tactics and next steps on
Kony. He referred to Kony as a threat to the region,
including Uganda, DRC and the Central African Republic.


7. (C) Kabila said the DRC needed more assistance with
internally displaced persons (IDPs) and with disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration (DDR),adding that the
current DDR program was being covered with GDRC funds not
budgeted for DDR. He also explained that the rotation of
FARDC units from Eastern Congo would be "systematic,"
implying that this would include units containing FDLR.


8. (C) President Kabila noted the DRC intended to purchase
arms, now that the embargo was lifted and thanked the USG for
its help on the UN Security Council Resolution that lifted
the embargo. He said the DRC had sent a team to Prague to
resolve an arms sales issue.


9. (C) A/S offered condolences for the April 15 plane crash
and noted Kabila,s improvements on increasing transparency.
She noted Ambassador Garvelink, along with the USG, was
prepared to assist and support further economic development
in DRC. She stressed the importance and urgency of all
stakeholders working together to put the Kony issue to rest.
Finally, the A/S highlighted the need to rotate out FARDC
units supporting FDLR.

RICE