US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1973

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001973 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPKO, CG, UN 
SUBJECT: U.N. UNDER SECRETARY GUEHENNO VISIT TO THE DRC 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: In October 21 remarks to the International 
Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT), U.N. 
Peacekeeping Under Secretary Guehenno said that his visit to 
the DRC was intended to review how MONUC could best utilize 
its limited resources.  Overall, the U.N.,s obective is to 
ensure a credible electoral process, and establish a sound 
foundation for the post-electoral period.  Guehenno 
emphasized that the unity and continued engagement of the 
international community is also an essential component to 
keep the DRC,s transition on track.  The  British, French, 
Belgian and U.S. Ambassadors discussed with Guehenno in an 
earlier meeting the need to move Congolese politicians to 
understand the need for some degree of power-sharing in a 
successful political system.  During his visit, Guehenno 
generally seemed to maintain a positive tone, albeit with 
occasional references to the UNSC,s failure to embrace fully 
the SYG,s recommendations for MONUC expansion.  End summary. 
 
2. (SBU)  U.N. Under Secretary for Peacekeeping Operation 
Jean-Marie Guehenno concluded a five day visit to the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with an October 21 
meeting with the 17 member International Committee to 
Accompany the Transition (CIAT).  In his remarks to the CIAT, 
Guehenno observed that the most recent resolution of the U.N. 
Security Council, UNSC Res. 1565 authorizing a 5,900 person 
expansion of MONUC, did not provide all the resources to do 
everything requested of MONUC.  His visit was therefore 
designed to discuss with UN SRSG Bill Swing, his staff, and 
GDRC officials how best to utilize the resources that will be 
available. 
 
3. (SBU) Guehenno stated that the U.N.,s overall objective 
in the DRC is to ensure a credible electoral process, and 
establish a solid foundation for the post-electoral period. 
This means that there is a political process that must run in 
parallel with election preparations to ensure that successful 
elections can be held and the results respected.  In 
addition, it is important to see progress in the security 
environment. 
 
4. (SBU)  Guehenno also emphasized that the unity of the 
international community be maintained as much as possible. 
This has already been demonstrated as an essential component 
to keep the DRC transition process on track, and is most 
visible in the CIAT.  Guehenno noted in this regard that the 
September 22 senior-level meeting of CIAT members in New York 
had represented a useful symbolic reinforcement of 
international community engagement and common intent. 
Guehenno elaborated by noting several areas where strong 
continued international engagement, and often pressure, is 
needed.  Among the specific areas Guehenno identified was 
security sector reform, including disarmament and 
reintegration/repatration programs, much of which is still 
lacking resources and political will within parts of the 
GDRC.    Building a viable police structure is another area. 
 
5. (SBU) The overall election process remains the centerpiece 
of the transition, but Guehenno underscored that even 
successful elections per se will not solve all problems. 
Nonetheless, significant progress in elections planning as 
well as in associated areas has been seen.  Guehenno observed 
that there are strong popular expectations in the DRC about 
elections, and major delays run the risk of a explosive 
negative reaction. 
 
6. (C) Guehenno observed that CIAT ambassadors have a dual 
role, accredited in a traditional role as representatives of 
their governments to the President and GDRC government, but 
also in this case acting as representatives to the full 
&Espace Presidentiel8 (note: President Kabila plus four 
Vice Presidents who represent the range of political 
components participating in the transition process). 
Guehenno also spoke of MONUC,s intent to facilitate 
establishment of three CIAT thematic commissions consistent 
with the recent DRC discussions in New York.  These are to 
deal with elections, security sector reform, and needed 
legislation, which includes preparation of a proposed new 
constitution. 
 
7. (C) Briefly summarizing MONUC's immediate plans regarding 
expansion, Guehenno reported that 3 brigades are to be 
assigned to the eastern portion of the country (Ituri 
district and the two Kivu provinces).  A new field 
headquarters is to be established in Kisangani for the east, 
which will also have a reserve element.  New forces are 
expected to arrive over the next three months.  Regarding the 
foreign armed forces, i.e. ex-FAR, Interahamwe and the FLDR, 
it will be MONUC,s intent to deploy forces to areas now 
considered relatively easy for these groups to disrupt or 
"destabilize" their operations, providing a greater 
opportunity for success for FARDC operations to &spark8 a 
new wave of disarmament and repatriations to Rwanda. 
 
8. (C) During a question and answer period, SRSG Swing 
reported that the Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) 
implementation between the DRC and Rwanda had been delayed 
because of the high level of tension in South Kivu occasioned 
by the unexpected return of large number of Congolese 
refugees from Burundi.  Among the various protests, a MONUC 
APC which had broken down in Bukavu had been attacked by a 
mob (note: as reported in Embassy and DATT reporting). 
MONUC,s judgment was the risk of an incident with Rwandan 
officers in the DRC was too high in the immediate aftermath 
of these problems.  Nonetheless, he intended for JVM 
operations to get underway before the end of the month. 
Swing reported that he is scheduled to meet October 22 with 
Rwandan JVM representative Amb. Richard Sezibera, currently 
in Kinshasa participating in planning for the November Great 
Lakes Conference, and with GDRC representative Amb. Antoine 
Ghonda to discuss the issue. 
 
9. (C) The French Ambassador hosted an October 20 breakfast 
for Guehenno with the British, Belgian, and U.S. Ambassadors, 
as well as SRSG Swing.  During the breakfast, the four 
Ambassadors discussed with Guehenno the importance of moving 
the Congolese away from the traditional model characterized 
by "one man" politics and "winner controls all" mentality to 
some understanding of the need for power sharing in 
successful political systems.  While this is difficult to do, 
and certainly many in the DRC political class are locked in 
to the old style of thinking, there is a very broad desire to 
get away from the Mobutu-style system, and there are some 
glimmers of more enlightened thinking.  It will be important 
for all engaged players, including MONUC and concerned 
members of the international community to assist political 
leaders to understand that they have a stake in a successful 
transition process, including elections. 
 
10. (C) Comment:  At least in his comments to foreign 
diplomats, Guehenno did not break much new ground, 
reiterating what is already accepted general MONUC policy 
consistent with that of the CIAT.  He generally maintained a 
positive tone, albeit interspersed with occasional references 
to the UNSC,s failure to embrace fully the SYG,s 
recommendations for a much bigger expansion of the MONUC 
operation and mandate.  Guehenno,s visit was scheduled only 
at the last minute, and he may well have had other agendas as 
well internal to MONUC.  From our perspective, IO A/S Holmes 
is fortuitously scheduled for a five-day visit with arrival 
in Kinshasa on October 28, providing us a good opportunity to 
follow up regarding current MONUC plans and operations, and 
to underscore USG views.  End comment. 
MEECE