DEMARCHE DELIVERED:SEEKING SUPPORT FOR THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000243 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/MLGA MELIKE YETKEN AND IO/RHS AMY OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC CG SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED:SEEKING SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF A UN INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON THE DRC REF: STATE 23728 Classified By: Ambassador William J. Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche March 16 to Banza Ngoy, Head of the International Organizations Directorate in the Foreign Ministry. Ngoy said that the GDRC may be inclined to support the creation of a new UN Independent Expert. He added that the GDRC, with its many challenges, has nothing to hide. Ngoy agreed that this would help to better the DRC's image abroad. ¶2. (C) Ngoy said that he would forward a report of our demarche to the Foreign Minister and to the Presidency, where a final decision will be taken. He said that the GDRC plans to send a delegation to the UN Human Rights Council to address this topic. GARVELINK