US embassy cable - 01KINSHASA810

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000810 
 
FOR AF/C - DIRECTOR HELEN LA LIME FROM BILL SWING 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, CG 
SUBJECT: CONGO:  "ROADMAP" TO A NEW RELATIONSHIP 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING FOR REASONS 
1.5(B)(D) 
 
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1. (C) "NEW WINE IN NEW BOTTLES...?" 
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IT WOULD BE IN OUR POLICY INTERESTS TO COME TO AN 
UNDERSTANDING EARLY IN BOTH THE NEW WASHINGTON AND KINSHASA 
ADMINISTRATIONS ON WAYS AND MEANS TO PUT US/CONGO (DRC) 
RELATIONS ON A NEW FOOTING.  IN THIS REGARD, THE ROADMAP, AS 
PROPOSED, IS DESIGNED TO CREATE MOMENTUM IN THE LUSAKA 
PROCESS.  IN SO DOING, THE POLITICAL WILL AND CAPACITY OF 
PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA TO UNDERTAKE A PROGRAM OF PEACE, 
NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND ECONOMIC REFORM WILL ALSO BE PUT 
TO A TEST.  CLEARLY, OUR ABILITY TO MOVE TO A NEW LEVEL IN 
OUR RELATIONS WILL DEPEND ON THE DRC'S COMMITMENT TO PROGRESS 
ON BOTH THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL TRACKS OF THE LUSAKA 
AGREEMENT.  OUR APPROACH HAS BEEN TO GROUP THE POINTS ALONG 
THE ROADMAP ACCORDING TO DEGREES OF DIFFICULTY IN 
IMPLEMENTING RATHER THAN THE MORE CUSTOMARY CATEGORIES OF 
SHORT-, MEDIUM-, AND LONG-TERM.  SEVERAL OF THE MEASURES HAVE 
BEEN RECENTLY PROPOSED IN MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT KABILA AND, 
AS SUCH, ARE ALREADY UNDER CONSIDERATION IN WASHINGTON. 
 
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2. (C) ROAD MAP TO BUILD A NEW 
       RELATIONSHIP WITH DRC 
--------------------------------- 
 
A.  STRAIGHT FORWARD 
-------------------- 
 
-- DISPATCH SENIOR BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TO KINSHASA 
TO FOLLOW UP PRESIDENT KABILA'S FEBRUARY 1 VISIT TO 
WASHINGTON WITH A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO 
EXPEDITE THE LUSAKA PROCESS AND A DESIRE TO STRENGTHEN OUR 
BILATERAL TIES. 
 
-- PRESS FOR JMC AND JPC TO BE MOVED FROM LUSAKA TO THE DRC. 
AS AN INDUCEMENT, OFFER AN ADDITIONAL U.S. FINANCIAL 
CONTRIBUTION TO THE JMC. 
 
-- CENTRALIZE HENCEFORTH AT EMBASSY KINSHASA PHONE CALLS TO 
(AND OTHER CONTACTS WITH) REBEL LEADERS (BEMBA, ONUSUMBA, ET 
AL) IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE MIXED OR FALSE SIGNALS TO THE 
MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE.  (THIS WOULD RECTIFY THE CURRENT 
PERCEPTION THAT OUR POLICY IS BIFURCATED -- WITH THE EMBASSY 
DEALING WITH THE CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT AND WASHINGTON -- OR 
OUR EMBASSIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES -- WITH THE REBELS.) 
 
-- OFFER TO ASSIST PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA IN THE TRAINING OF 
A PROFESSIONAL "CLOSE-IN" PROTECTION TEAM. 
 
-- RESPOND POSITIVELY TO PRESIDENT KABILA'S REQUEST FOR 
ASSISTANCE IN COMBATING CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT.  IN 
ADDITION TO MAKING AVAILABLE EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION ON US 
ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS AND MECHANISMS, USE 
GREAT LAKES JUSTICE INITIATIVE (GLJI) FUNDS TO ASSIST THE 
GDRC IN SETTING UP AN "ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT" OFFICE. 
 
-- COMPLETE BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE AND REMOVAL 
OF ALL SPENT AND FRESH NUCLEAR FUEL RODS FROM THE NUCLEAR 
REACTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KINSHASA. 
 
-- INCLUDE THE CONGO (DRC) IN THE PRESIDENTIAL "LIFE" 
INITIATIVE ON HIV/AIDS. 
 
-- MAKE AVAILABLE DOD FUNDING TO COMBAT HIV/AIDS IN THE 
CONGOLESE MILITARY (FAC). 
 
-- ANNOUNCE FY-2001 US AID PROGRAM LEVELS.  INCLUDE 
ADDITIONAL OFDA FUNDS FOR SEVERE ONGOING HUMANITARIAN 
EMERGENCIES IN THE CONGO. 
 
-- ESTABLISH A "PEACE FUND" FOR BUNIA TO SUPPORT LOCAL 
INITIATIVES TO RESOLVE THE HEMA/LENDU CONFLICT. 
 
-- SEND OPDAT (DOJ) DIRECTOR CARL ALEXANDER TO KINSHASA FOR 
INITIAL EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS ON JUDICIAL REFORM, INCLUDING 
THE POSSIBLE FUTURE TRAINING OF MAGISTRATES (GLJI) ONCE 
LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED. 
 
-- ENSURE THAT THE PROMISED U.S. CONTRIBUTION OF $1 MILLION 
IS AVAILABLE TO FUND THE CONGOLESE NATIONAL DIALOGUE. 
 
B. MORE DIFFICULT 
----------------- 
 
-- DEVISE A SCENARIO LINKING IMPLEMENTATION OF GDRC ECONOMIC 
REFORM TO ENHANCED COOPERATION.  FOR EXAMPLE:  (A) CONSULT 
WITH GDRC TO CREATE A PROGRAM THAT WOULD CLEAR ARREARS, LIFT 
BROOKE SANCTIONS, AND REMOVE OTHER IMPEDIMENTS TO 
GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT BILATERAL AID TO THE DRC; (B) 
ANNOUNCE THAT ADOPTION OF A SHADOW IMF PROGRAM WILL TRIGGER 
USG PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD BANK CONGO TRUST FUND; (C) 
SIGN AN OPIC AGREEMENT AFTER THE GDRC ADOPTS A REVISED 
INVESTMENT CODE, AND (D) SEND A STATE/TREASURY TECHNICAL 
MISSION TO CHART A PLAN (IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GDRC) FOR 
CONGOLESE QUALIFICATION FOR HIPC DEBT RELIEF. 
 
-- URGE WORLD BANK PRESIDENT JAMES WOLFENSOHN AND IMF 
MANAGING DIRECTOR HORST KOHLER TO INCLUDE A BRIEF STOP IN 
KINSHASA DURING THEIR FORTHCOMING VISIT TO BAMAKO, ABUJA, DAR 
ES SALAAM, AND NAIROBI, FEBRUARY 18-25. 
 
-- COORDINATE MORE CLOSELY WITH THE FRENCH.  IN SO DOING, (A) 
EXAMINE THE FRENCH  PROPOSAL TO DEPLOY UN PEACEKEEPING TROOPS 
AT THE BORDER BETWEEN THE CONGO AND RWANDA, WHICH THE FRENCH 
VIEW AS THE "HEART OF THE PROBLEM"; AND (B) CALIBRATE US 
SUPPORT FOR THE FRENCH DEMAND THAT A "DATE CERTAIN" BE SET 
FOR RWANDAN/UGANDAN TROOP WITHDRAWAL IN RETURN FOR FRENCH 
SUPPORT FOR DDRR OF EX-FAZ/INTERAHAMWE -- ALL THE WHILE 
AVOIDING ANY LINKAGE BETWEEN THE WITHDRAWAL AND "NEGATIVE 
FORCES" ISSUES. 
 
-- INSIST THAT ALL PARTIES RETREAT TO POSITIONS DECLARED IN 
KAMPALA DISENGAGEMENT PLAN.  (THIS WOULD REQUIRE RWANDA TO 
WITHDRAW FROM PWETO.)  INSIST THAT MONUC DEPLOY TO PWETO 
WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY. 
 
-- PRESS THE GDRC THAT THE KINSHASA OFFICE OF NATIONAL 
DIALOGUE FACILITATOR MASIRE SHOULD BE RE-OPENED. 
 
C.  DIFFICULT 
------------- 
 
-- INCLUDE CONGO (DRC) ON ANY SECSTATE VISIT TO AFRICA. 
 
-- STRONG DEMARCHE TO RWANDA AND UGANDA FOR ACCELERATED 
WITHDRAWAL OF THEIR  TROOPS. 
 
-- OFFER DOD REIMBURSABLE AIRLIFT SUPPORT FOR MONUC 
DEPLOYMENT. 
 
-- FREEZE IMET AND E-IMET FOR RWANDA AND UGANDA UNTIL THEIR 
TROOPS WITHDRAW FROM THE DRC; ONCE TROOP WITHDRAWAL IS 
ACCOMPLISHED, DEVELOP BALANCED IMET PROGRAM FOR THE GREAT 
LAKES SUB-REGION TO INCLUDE THE CONGO (DRC) AS IT SEEKS TO 
RE-STRUCTURE ITS ARMED FORCES. 
 
-- PROPOSE US-FUNDED FIVE-YEAR DOJ/ICITAP POLICE TRAINING 
PROGRAM. 
 
-- SUPPORT A CALL FOR REPARATIONS BY RWANDA AND UGANDA FOR 
LIVES LOST AND PROPERTY AND INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGED OR 
DESTROYED DURING THREE SEPARATE INSTANCES OF FIGHTING BETWEEN 
UGANDAN AND RWANDAN REGULARS IN KISANGANI IN 1999 AND 2000. 
 
 
WALKLEY