US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1868

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001868 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPKO, KDEM, CG 
SUBJECT: CIAT MEETS WITH ESPACE PRESIDENTIEL OCT 6 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1867 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROGER MEECE, REASON 1.4 (B/D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: The first-ever meeting of the "Espace 
Presidentiel" (President plus four vice presidents) with the 
International Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT) 
was held October 6, albeit without Vice President Bemba, 
currently in the U.S.  Discussion focused on the transition 
"road map" (reftel), military integration, and election 
preparations.  The military integration discussion noted 
efforts to arrive at a coordinated plan, and an initiative to 
form an integrated "Kivu Brigade."  Concerns about available 
finances and a short preparation time for elections were 
discussed.  Ruberwa presented legally-based concerns about 
the issue of a census, and some of the Congolese comments 
predictably focused on problems of international financial 
support.  Agreement was reached to establish a follow-up 
committee, and to consider the establishment of 
sub-committees, as well as future full Espace Presidentiel 
meetings.  In general, it was a useful precedent-setting 
exercise, even with a few sour notes.  End summary. 
 
2. (C)  The International Committee to Accompany the 
Transition (CIAT) met with President Kabila, three of the 
four DRC Vice Presidents (VP Bemba is in the U.S.), and the 
head of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) October 6. 
 Numerous other presidential staff were also present.  The 
meeting was in response to a very long-standing request from 
the CIAT to meet with the "Espace Presidentiel" (President 
plus four Vice Presidents), never previously successfully 
realized largely due to the continued deep mistrust felt by 
the rival leaders in the Transition Government. 
 
3. (SBU)  Primary topics discussed during the roughly 
two-hour meeting included the transition "road map," military 
integration and related questions associated with disarmament 
and demobilization, election preparations, and modalities for 
future work.  The CIAT had furnished the Congolese officials 
with its latest iteration of the road map, laying out CIAT 
expectations for the main four focus areas of the transition 
(military integration and DDR, disarmament of foreign armed 
groups, elections, and extension of state authority 
throughout the DRC - see reftel). 
 
4. (C) After opening pleasantries, President Kabila 
acknowledged receipt of the CIAT road map, and observed that 
it closely followed the overall structure of the government's 
own draft road map, although he reported the latter to be far 
more detailed outlining steps requiring action.  He also said 
that the GDRC road map is to be discussed with a view toward 
adoption at a Friday, October 8 meeting of the Council of 
Ministers.  By the time the meeting ended, Kabila arranged to 
distribute to all CIAT members the bulky current draft of the 
GDRC plan. 
 
5. (C) In opening comments, SRSG Bill Swing expressed CIAT 
pleasure in holding the meeting, noted the need for similar 
future meetings at regular intervals, and the desire to have 
established follow-up mechanisms.   Swing specifically 
proposed that another full Espace Presidentiel meeting should 
be held linked to the planned late November visit to Kinshasa 
by members of the U.N. Security Council. 
 
6. (C) By prior arrangement, the French Ambassador opened the 
substantive CIAT presentation by speaking about military 
integration plans, including successful steps taken to date 
such as the Belgian-sponsored formation of the integrated 
Ituri Brigade as a counterpart to the "post-Artemis" MONUC 
Ituri Brigade.  He observed, however, that there has been a 
lack of a coordinated master plan for overall integration, 
with little general progress realized to-date and 
corresponding problems created for demobilization and 
reintegration plans, as well as for general security.  He 
reported very promising discussions underway to arrive at a 
more coordinated international community position, and 
specifically put forward an idea to move quickly to form an 
integrated "Kivu Brigade."  The latter would be consistent 
with a developing consensus to harmonize currently 
uncoordinated South African and Belgium proposals, and it 
could be meshed easily with standing World Bank 
demobilization plans.  In addition, the proposed brigade 
would be useful to address continuing security concerns in 
the east, associated in part with a very confused and often 
contentious current FARDC military structure in the region. 
As well, it would be fashioned to take on the task of 
forcible disarmament of foreign combatants in the area as 
needed.  The French Ambassador further noted that the IMF had 
indicated that $75 million has been earmarked in the 2005 
budget for military integration (note: an amount which 
includes the police), although the specific sourcing for 
these funds has not yet been identified (e.g., international 
support, GDRC receipts).  He expressed optimism that European 
countries would be in a position to provide significant 
support in this regard. 
7. (C) The European Commission Delegate followed with a 
presentation noting CIAT concerns about pending or recently 
passed election-related laws, and the potential impact on 
elections.  He reflected widespread concerns about the 
relatively short time remaining before elections should be 
held according to the Global and All-Inclusive Accord 
timetable. 
 
8. (C) In the final CIAT statement, the U.K. Ambassador 
picked up on ideas put forward during the recent senior-level 
CIAT member meeting in New York, proposing to establish three 
CIAT sub-committees dealing with security sector reform, 
election-related legislation, and election planning.  He 
observed that the sub-committees would in no way be conceived 
to supplant future general "Espace Presidentiel" meetings. 
 
9. (C) Vice President Ruberwa (RCD-Goma) was the first on the 
Congolese side to react, welcoming the CIAT road map and 
observing that he and others would need more time to review 
the document for any inconsistencies with the proposed GDRC 
document.  He noted that DDR is not particularly advanced, 
but it is ahead of integration efforts in that significant 
funding has already been found.  He further welcomed the 
proposal to form a Kivu Brigade.  On a less positive note, 
regarding elections, Ruberwa focused on legal concerns about 
the need for a census prior to elections.  He noted that the 
government had accepted the idea of a voter registration 
exercise, vice full census, given constraints of time and 
money but added that an "administrative census" is still 
needed in order properly to allocate legislative seats and 
representation.  Ruberwa also noted that separate versions of 
a nationality law passed by the Senate and National Assembly 
were both "more or less" in accordance with the government's 
proposals. 
 
10. (C) Vice President Zahidi Ngoma (opposition parties) also 
endorsed the Kivu Brigade initiative, emphasized that Sun 
City accords should not be rewritten (in terms of election 
preparations), and expressed general support for the road 
map, albeit with the caveat that such plans need to be 
sufficiently flexible to respond to changing conditions. 
Later, Zahidi expressed concerns that international funding 
support for elections is insufficient or available only late, 
threatening timely implementation.  Vice President Yerodia, 
in vintage style, made some opening observations about the 
good fortune that the CIAT had not been given the label of 
"FIAT," and that the "Loch Ness monster" of the transition 
needs adequate international support to ensure that it is 
controlled. 
 
11. (C) In subsequent discussion, President Kabila endorsed 
the general ideas put forward by the CIAT, and specifically 
called for a follow-up committee meeting as early as this 
Saturday, October 9, to address issues raised.   SRSG Swing 
and some CIAT members expressed confidence that adequate 
funds would be identified for election planning and 
implementation, but also observed that other elements (e.g., 
needed laws) additionally need to be in place.  There was 
substantial back-and-forth on the census question, based 
largely on the implicit recognition by at least the CIAT 
members that a larger census exercise, even if theoretically 
desirable, is simply not feasible within the constraints of 
time and money available.  SRSG Swing underscored the 
principle that the "perfect should not become the enemy of 
the good." 
 
12. (C) Comment: The CIAT had been working to have a meeting 
of this nature for about a year.  Even without Bemba present, 
and with some of the sour notes struck by some of the 
Congolese, it was a useful precedent-setting exercise with 
the various rival Vice Presidents present.  The effort by 
Zahidi and others in essence to set up the international 
community to take the fall for delayed elections or worse is 
unhelpful, but very much consistent with long-established 
Congolese history.  It is unlikely to play well this time 
around, however, because unlike past periods, a broad range 
of the Congolese population have strong expectations that 
results will be produced.  It is clear that many Congolese 
leaders recognize that like it or not, they cannot afford to 
be identified with failure on this front.  The CIAT will, of 
course, continue to push strongly for rapid election 
progress.  Most if not all members recognize that it will be 
difficult logistically, if for no other reason, to get 
elections organized by next June, the current target date. 
It is also accepted by all, however, that it is imperative to 
provide Congolese politicians no maneuvering room to exploit 
opportunities to delay.  Likewise,  the spotlight must remain 
on Congolese leaders, and not on the international community, 
to take responsibility for progress or lack thereof regarding 
elections.  The news regarding GDRC endorsement as early as 
this week of the government's road map is also a welcome 
development.  End comment. 
 
 
MEECE