CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AFGHANISTAN AND

UNCLAS BRAZZAVILLE 000091


DEPT FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT
DEPT FOR AF/C LKORTE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL NATO MARR MOPS PK AF
SUBJECT: CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AFGHANISTAN AND
PAKISTAN STRATEGIC REVIEW

REF: STATE 29482


1. Per reftel, EmbOff met with Daniel Owassa, Secretary General,
Chef du Cabinet, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the
Republic of the Congo (ROC). Talking points regarding the new
strategy for meeting the challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan
were presented to Owassa.


2. In response, Owassa commented that the increase in troop
levels might overshadow the increased diplomatic and development
efforts called for in the new strategy. Owassa suggested the
real war against terror would be fought in the hearts and minds
of the Afghan and Pakistani people. According to his
assessment, as long as the U.S. was perceived as an occupying
force there would always be new volunteers ready to join the
Taliban. EmbOff responded that development could not succeed in
the absence of security and reminded Owassa of the important
development role played by military forces.

EASTHAM