US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1657

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001657 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINS, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: STATEMENTS BY CIAT AND THE GDRC ON THE RCD-G'S 
DECISION TO SUSPEND PARTICIPATION IN THE TRANSITION 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1608 
 
1. (U) The CIAT and the GDRC issued statements concerning the 
Congolese Rally for Democracy-Goma's (RCD-G) decision to 
suspend their participation in the institutions of the 
transitions, except the army. The following are unofficial 
translations of the statements issued by each entity: 
 
 
COMMUNIQUE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE 
TRANSITION (CIAT) 
 
 
1-     The CIAT expresses its sympathy with the feelings of 
pain and sorrow that afflict the Congolese people following 
the terrible massacre, which took place in Gatumba on August 
13, 2004. 
 
2-    Moreover, The CIAT has learned of the declaration made 
by the Congolese Rally for Democracy - RCD and notes with 
regret that some of those responsible for this entity have 
decided to temporally suspend their participation in the 
Transitional Institutions. 
 
 
3-    The CIAT immediately invites RCD members who have 
announced suspension of their participation in the 
Transitional Institutions to retake their respective 
positions in Kinshasa which is the headquarters of the 
country's institutions. 
 
4-    The CIAT calls on all transition officials and 
political leaders to encourage dialogue and national 
reconciliation through their actions and statements. It calls 
on everyone to abstain from speech or acts which may raise 
tensions or foment ethnic hatred. 
 
 
5-    The CIAT reiterates that there is no viable alternative 
to the transition process as laid down in the All Global and 
Inclusive Accord and the Constitution. The difficulties 
encountered must find their solutions within the transitional 
institutions and within the framework of mechanisms set to 
this effect. 
 
6-    The CIAT is composed of five permanent United Nations 
Security Council members (China, United States of America, 
France, the United Kingdom, Russia) Belgium, Canada, South 
Africa, Angola, Gabon, Zambia, the European Union, the 
African Union and MONUC 
 
Done in Kinshasa August 24, 2004 
 
 
 
GOVERNMENT'S COMMUNIQUE TO THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN 
KINSHASA IN RELATION TO THE RCD-G'S DECISION TO SUSPEND ITS 
PARTICIPATION IN THE DRC TRANSITIONAL INSTITUTIONS 
 
Statement by Robert Mbwinga, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs 
 
To begin with, I would like to thank you on behalf of the 
Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for having 
taken time from your numerous occupations to respond to our 
invitation. 
 
The government has asked me to organize this meeting to 
inform your excellencies on our position regarding the 
current path of the transition. 
 
The Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the 
Congo was surprised about the declaration made in Goma on 
Tuesday August 24, 2004, by his Excellency Azarias Ruberwa, 
Vice-President in charge of the Political, Defense and 
Security Commission, in which he announced that the RCD-G was 
temporarily pulling out of the transitional institutions. We 
were surprised  not only about the place where the 
declaration was made, but also about its contents. In effect, 
Kinshasa, as the headquarters of the country's institutions 
would have been a more appropriate city to make the 
declaration than Goma. The latter is remembered as one of the 
cities where aggression was carried out against our country. 
 
As far as the contents of the Vice-President's declaration is 
concerned, the Government has noted that the RCD-G decision 
to temporarily suspend its participation in the transitional 
institutions may have been motivated by its claim  to 
evaluate the transition. It appears that the latter claim has 
been justified on account of the massacre of Congolese people 
 in the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi. The government 
reminds everyone that, having denounced this repulsive act, 
it has called for the setting up of an independent 
international investigative commission to identify the 
authors of the massacre, establish responsibilities and bring 
them to justice. Before this takes place, the Vice-President 
should refrain from making any speculations or hasty 
declarations, because this matter is very serious and it 
should be treated with great caution. 
 
In any case, it is not secret to anyone that the transition 
process has witnessed several problems since its inception. 
The Government wants to stress that in all cases, solutions 
have been found in accordance with the Transitional 
Constitution and the All Global and Inclusive Accord, as well 
as within the transitional institutions. These mechanisms 
have thus far shown their efficiency and as such should not 
be ignored. No one should look for ways to bring the  country 
back to the starting point and imperil the gains already 
acquired as well as progress to set up the institutions of 
the Third Republic. There is no possibility of stopping the 
transition to evaluate and negotiate outside the institutions 
defined by the All Global and Inclusive Accord and the 
Transitional Constitution. 
 
As a reminder, at the end of the transition's first year, an 
evaluation was carried out by the government through which 
each commission was called on to report on their activities. 
Only the Economic and Financial Commission has presented its 
report, which was adopted by the Council of Ministers. The 
Commission on Political, Security and Defense Matters, 
presided over by Vice-President Ruberwa is currently 
examining reports by ministries under its jurisdiction before 
presentation to the Council of Ministers. What evaluation 
then does the RCD need? 
 
Each of you has to remember that at the beginning of this 
year, the President of the DRC held consultations with all 
components and entities of the transitional government on 
whether to revise the All Global and Inclusive Accord and the 
Constitution. All have unanimously called for the 
continuation of the transition under its current form. Along 
the same lines, the presidents of the Senate, the National 
Assembly and the institutions of support for democracy, 
expressed their continued support for the transition during a 
meeting with the President. I would like to call on all of 
you Ambassadors and Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions to act as 
interlocutors with your governments and to covey to your 
governments the firm desire of the Congolese people to pursue 
the transitional period without stops until the organization 
of free and transparent elections. 
 
As far as the government is concerned, it will continue to do 
everything it can in this regard. Additionally, all relevant 
ministries have been instructed to take all necessary steps 
to maintain peace and security for the population and 
citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ministry of 
Defense has been specifically charged with safeguarding the 
apolitical nature of the army who should leave to political 
actors the responsibility of addressing the current situation. 
 
With regard to politicians and political parties, its is 
recommended that they avoid all statements that can further 
aggravate the situation and place the transition in peril. We 
call on them to work with the government to find a positive 
and prompt conclusion to this situation. 
 
The government cannot leave out the opportunity to commend 
the courage of all the RCD members who, on account of their 
patriotic duty, have decided to remain in Kinshasa and 
continue their participation in the transition institutions. 
 
Finally, the Government reiterates its recognition to the 
international community for the laudable and incessant 
efforts it has displayed for the success of the transition 
and calls on its vital role to ensure that the RCD comes to 
its senses and retakes its participation in the institutions 
of the republic. 
 
Done in Kinshasa 
August 25, 2004 
 
Professor Mbwinga Bila 
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs 
 
MEECE