US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1510

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001510 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR INR/R/MR; AF/C; AF/PD; AF/PA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OPRC, KPAO, PGOV, PINS, CG, MAP 
SUBJECT: MEDIA PLACEMENT - PRESS RELEASE ON U.S. MILITARY 
ASSISTANCE TO THE DRC, JULY 21, 2004 
 
1. On July 21, 2004 PAS Kinshasa distributed a press release 
on the U.S. military assistance to the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo. The English text of the release is as follows: 
 
"The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the successful 
visit of a team from the Defense Institute of International 
Legal Studies (DIILS) to Kinshasa. This team visited 
Kinshasa from July 12-16th. The purpose of this visit was to 
plan a series of approximately four seminars to be held in 
the DRC over the next two years, beginning this October. 
DIILS promotes dialogue and exchange between the U.S. 
military and foreign military and civilian authorities in 
order to help develop professional and responsible armed 
services. DIILS helps develop military justice systems, 
emphasizing the importance of the rule of law as well as the 
key role of civil-military relations, including civilian 
oversight and control of the military. DIILS will also bring 
Congolese military and civilian personnel to the U.S. for 
training. 
 
The visit of the DIILS team marks a major step forward in 
the resumption of military cooperation between the DRC and 
the U.S.  The USG is engaging in a number of other military 
educational and exchange programs with the DRC, and it looks 
forwards to an expanded military relationship with the DRC, 
reflecting the DRC's key role in bringing peace and 
stability to the Great Lakes region." 
 
2. The French version of the press release appeared in the 
Kinshasa newspapers listed below. The general headline for 
these placements was "Assistance Militaire du Gouvernement 
Des Etats-Unis d'Amerique a la Republique Democratique du 
Congo" ("U.S. Military Assistance to the DRC"). 
 
a. The independent La Reference Plus, July 22nd edition, 
page 6. 
 
b. The pro-UDPS (opposition) Le Phare, July 22nd edition, 
page 3. 
 
c. The pro-PPRD (former government) L'Avenir, July 22nd 
edition, page 3. 
 
d. The pro-"Forces du Futur" (opposition) "Forum des As", 
July 22nd edition, page 4. 
 
e. The independent Le Potentiel, July 22 edition, page 3. 
 
f. The pro-PPRD Uhuru, July 23rd-25th edition, page 5. 
 
g. The independent La Prosperite, July 23rd edition, 
page 8. 
 
h. The pro-PPRD L'Observateur, July 23rd-25th edition, 
page 2. 
 
i. The pro-"Forces du Futur" (opposition) "Forum des As", 
July 23rd edition, page 2. 
 
j. The pro-opposition La Cloche, July 23rd-26th, and July 
26th-28th editions, respectively page 6 and page 4. 
 
Meece