US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1033

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001033 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C - MADEEHA ASHRAF and AF/RSA 
DEPT FOR EB/TPP/ABT/ATP - PATRICK HUDAK 
DEPT FOR IO/T - WINNIE ROBERTS 
DEPT FOR EB/ESC/TFS - JLEY 
DEPT FOR S/CT - TKUSHNER 
DEPT FOR IO/PSC - BFITZGERALD 
DEPT FOR NP/PPC - J SMITH AND M LANDWEBER 
DEPT FOR G/TIP 
NSC PLEASE PASS TO MRUPPERT 
TREASURY PLEASE PASS TO JZARATE 
OFAC PLEASE PASS TO RWERNER 
USTR PLEASE PASS TO BETH LEIER 
USDA PLEASE PASS TO RON LORD 
 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, OPRC, KCRM, KWMN, PHUM, KTFN, EFIN, ETTC, PTER, CVIS, KVPR, KPAO, EAGR, ETRD, TBIO, PARM, MNUC, KNNP, KUNR, PGOV, AORC, CF, UNESCO, KSCI, UNSC 
SUBJECT:  CONGO/B:  DELIVERY OF DEMARCHES AND TIP 
REPORT 
 
REF A: STATE 100368 
REF B: STATE 102449 
REF C: STATE 109147 
REF D: KINSHASA 00977 
REF E: STATE 109242 
REF F: STATE 110046 
REF G: STATE 111637 
REF H: STATE 111657 
REF I: STATE 114051 
 
1. The following demarches were delivered on June 16, 
2005, by the Ambassador and Econ/Cons Officer to 
Ambassador Gregoire Kaya, Interim Secretary General of 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). 
 
2. Release of the 2005 TIP Report (REF A) - Ambassador 
conveyed to Kaya that the 2005 TIP Report had recently 
been released.  She noted that although Congo/B was not 
listed this year, TIP is an annual review and that the 
government may need to take some steps now, such as 
passing a law that would specifically prohibit 
trafficking in persons.  The Ambassador also raised the 
issue of the isolated anecdotal rumors (as yet 
unsubstantiated) of some in the Beninois community 
using children, claimed as "family members," for labor. 
The rumors say that the children work long hours and 
are not attending school, even though the other 
children in the family do.  Kaya acknowledged that he 
had not heard as much detail about the rumors as the 
Ambassador had conveyed, but that he would be 
interested in hearing more as the cases are 
investigated.  He did note that some older rumors 
regarding somewhat similar issues in the Malian 
community seem either to have disappeared or were 
proved invalid.  In closing, the Ambassador underscored 
that without a more cohesive and aggressive laws 
against trafficking in persons, that Congo/B may find 
itself listed in the TIP Report as early as next year, 
particularly as it continues to improve its post 
conflict status. 
 
3. Terrorist Finance List 72 (REF B) - The Interim 
Secretary General accepted the information and 
 
SIPDIS 
expressed that his government supports efforts to 
combat global terrorism.  He responded that his 
government has similar issues with terrorism in the 
Pool region.  The Ambassador touched on the difference 
between domestic economic crime or internal quasi-rebel 
activity and terrorism as a distinction between the 
global war on terrorism (and those who support or 
sponsor terrorism) and political or economic 
instability in Congo/B.  Kaya reiterated support for 
the global war on terrorism, but persisted in 
characterizing the former Ninjas in the Pool region as 
terrorists or as creating terror for his government. 
 
4. Implementing Raw Sugar Tariff Rate Quota (REF C & D) 
- As reported in reftels, the Ambassador, with 
Econ/Cons Officer, delivered the Congo/B sugar 
certificates on May 27(see REF D concerning the 
delivery).  Comment: the Embassy is concerned that the 
bilateral assistance provided to Congo/B under the 
American Sugar Program may not be benefiting the 
country's treasury and has, therefore, requested 
accounting to show the extent to which this assistance 
is actually benefiting the ROC. 
 
5. UNESCO Bioethics Declaration (REF E) - The Interim 
Secretary General said that the head of Congo/B's 
 
SIPDIS 
delegation would be leaving the following day and that 
he would pass along the information on the USG 
position. 
 
6. UNSCR 1540 (REF F) - Kaya said he was unable to 
confirm whether Congo/B was working on the report or 
what its status was.  In fact, he was rather uncertain 
about the status of the report, but did agree to look 
into it and get back to the Embassy. 
 
7. UN Reform: Promoting our Priorities (REF G, H, & I) 
- Ambassador covered all talking points from the 
reftels and delivered the non-paper for the demarche 
(REF I) on the USG support for the creation of a UN 
mechanism such as the Human Rights Council that would 
be more aggressive than the Commission on Human Rights 
at examining human rights issues.  Kaya appeared pretty 
well aware of many of the USG priorities, among them, 
the priority towards greater emphasis on improved trade 
and greater foreign investment as a key to sustainable 
development.  In recounting a local example, he 
observed that aid by itself does not necessarily lead 
to sustainable development and that strategies like the 
ones suggested by the USG are likely to be more 
effective.  He also seemed to respond well to the 
priorities for the Democracy Initiatives, a new Human 
Rights Council, the creation of a Peacebuilding 
Commission, and the adoption of a comprehensive 
Convention on Terrorism.  Despite his positive attitude 
towards the subject of the demarches, he did not 
comment substantively about the position of Congo/B 
with respect to the reform package or the specific 
priorities.  He noted that he would review all of our 
positions with the Foreign Minister when he returns to 
ROC as they prepare for UNGA. 
 
8.  The Interim Secretary General Kaya also passed 
along that President Sassou would definitely be going 
to UNGA this summer.  The MFA always tends to be out 
front and positive on this issue.  Post will need to 
see closer to the start of the UNGA session whether 
Sassou will travel this year or not. 
 
9. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders. 
MEECE