US embassy cable - 00KINSHASA8501

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008501 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: MORJANE ADDRESSES DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY 
 
 
REF: KINSHASA 8455 
 
 
1. AMBASSADOR MORJANE ADDRESSED THE ENTIRE DIPLOMATIC 
COMMUNITY DECEMBER 21 TO SUMMARIZE THE POLITICAL/MILITARY 
SITUATION IN THE DRC AT YEAR'S END, AND TO COMMUNICATE THE 
DIRECTION OF MONUC IN LIGHT OF UNSC RESOLUTION 1332. 
 
 
2. OVERALL, MORJANE VIEWED THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY IN THE 
DRC AS "POSITIVE" COMPARED WITH THE END OF LAST YEAR, AND 
SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE RECENT SERIES OF REGIONAL 
DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT THE PEACE PROCESS -- MAPUTO 
I AND II; THE KINSHASA FRANCOPHONE CHIEFS OF STATE MEETING; 
TRIPOLI; THE LUSAKA JPC MEETING; AND THE RECENT SIGNATURE OF 
DISENGAGEMENT "SUB-PLANS" AT HARARE.  HOWEVER, MORJANE 
EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO SEE THESE INITIATIVES "COORDINATED 
TOWARD THE SAME GOAL."  MORJANE VIEWED THE CURRENT MEETINGS 
IN LIBREVILLE POSITIVELY AS WELL, BUT URGED THAT PARTICIPANTS 
IN THIS AND OTHER INITIATIVES MAINTAIN A COMMON POINT OF 
REFERENCE: THE LUSAKA ACCORDS.  HE ALSO OBSERVED THAT ONLY 
THREE OF THE HARARE SIGNATORIES HAD ACTUALLY ISSUED 
DISENGAGEMENT ORDERS TO THEIR FORCES. 
 
 
3. WITH REGARD TO UNSC RESOLUTION 1332, MORJANE WAS PLEASED 
TO SEE THAT INITIATIVES HE HAD REQUESTED, AND HAD EXPRESSED 
DIRECTLY TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL, HAD BEEN INCORPORATED INTO 
THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION.  THE UNSC, HE SAID, HAD DECIDED 
"TO GIVE THE PARTIES ANOTHER CHANCE -- TO PROVE THEIR GOOD 
FAITH."  HE SPECIFICALLY CITED UNSCR 1332'S PROVISION FOR A 
POSSIBLE MEETING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL WITH SIGNATORIES IN 
FEBRUARY TO REVIEW PROGRESS IN DISENGAGEMENT, DISARMAMENT, 
AND WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN FORCES. HE POINTED OUT THAT 
PARAGRAPH 18 EXPRESSED CLEARLY THE POSSIBILITY OF 
CONSEQUENCES FOR INACTION IN THE FACE OF MOUNTING 
"INTERNATIONAL FRUSTRATION." 
 
 
4. MORJANE MADE A SPECIAL POINT TO EXPRESS HIS GRAVE CONCERN 
THAT ZAMBIA MIGHT BE PULLED INTO THE DRC CONFLICT DUE TO THE 
CURRENT FIGHTING ALONG ITS BORDER.  THE AMBASSADOR OPINED 
THAT THE CRISIS HAD REACHED A PARTICULARLY DELICATE MOMENT, 
AND SAID THAT "ALL ACTIONS MUST BE BALANCED TOWARD A 
SOLUTION."  FOR HIS PART, THE SRSG SAID THAT HE PLANNED TO 
PUT A PERMANENT TEAM IN ZAMBIA NEAR THE BORDER IN VIEW OF THE 
SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM THERE. 
 
 
5. MORJANE FINISHED HIS ADDRESS BY LAUNCHING AN APPEAL FOR 
TROOPS TO REPLACE THE TWO BATTALIONS FROM PAKISTAN ORIGINALLY 
FORSEEN FOR THE DRC BUT SINCE SENT TO SIERRA LEONE. THERE ARE 
NOW, HE SAID, ONLY TWO BATALLIONS SLATED TO COME TO THE DRC, 
ONE FROM SENEGAL AND ONE FROM MOROCCO. 
 
 
6. AMBASSADOR MORJANE MADE A SPECIAL APPEAL FOR RIVERINE 
UNITS -- BOATS AND CREWS -- TO REPLACE THE ITALIAN UNITS 
(PROMISED BUT LATER WITHDRAWN) TO HELP REOPEN THE CONGO RIVER 
TO COMMERCE BETWEEN MBANDAKA AND KISANGANI -- TWO SITES 
SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN UNSCR 1332 (OPERATIVE PARAGRAPH 
EIGHT).  MORJANE SAID THAT HE VIEWS AS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL 
THE "RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTACT AMONG THE PROVINCES." 
SWING