DEMARCHE TO AFRICAN STATES ON VIKTOR BOUT

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000785 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, EUR/RUS, AF/W, AF/C and S/CT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PTER CO RS TH CG SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AFRICAN STATES ON VIKTOR BOUT REFS: A) STATE 88230 B) BANGKOK 1998 ¶1. (U) Ambassador Garvelink was received August 25 by Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba in the context of an appointment the ambassador had requested to discuss a broad range of issues. Also present were diplomatic advisor Clementine Shakembo and Americas director Louis Lokosu Nkulufa. Ambassador was accompanied by DCM. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador noted that a person of interest to the GDRC (Bout),someone who had broken Congolese law, was being held by Thai authorities pending resolution of an extradition request from the U.S. The U.S. wanted him extradited where he would be duly tried for his crimes. Ambassador asked Thambwe if the GDRC could help by approaching the Thai government in support of the U.S. extradition request. ¶3. (SBU) Thambwe expressed interest in doing this, noting that the DRC would also like to see Bout behind bars. He asked his staff if the RTG has an ambassador accredited to the GRDC. Their response was negative, although the RTG may have asked to have its ambassador in Nairobi accredited here. ¶4. (SBU) The foreign minister then turned to his staffers and asked that they request a meeting for him with the Thai foreign minister during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, where Thambwe Mwamba will head the Congolese delegation. GARVELINK