US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1106

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001106 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Department pass HHS and EUCOM 
 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT, OTRA, CF 
SUBJECT: CONGO/B: Request to Limit Official Visitors to 
Brazzaville 
 
REF: State 119803 
 
1.  As the Department is aware, Brazzaville remains with a 
skeleton staff.  This skeleton staff will be further reduced 
during the period July-September, with no means to handle 
support for a large number of official visitors.  Given the 
current circumstance Post requests advising all potential 
official visitors of this issue and suggest that they 
reconsider not stopping in Brazzaville until a later date 
after the summer. 
 
2. Post notes the visit of the high level delegation in 
reftel of Special Assistant to the Secretary of HHS, Dr. 
Steiger.  Please advise the Special Assistant's staff of the 
circumstances at post as there will be only two people at 
post during his visit, one being a WAE.  Despite the Embassy 
being very short staffed for this visit, Post will seek to 
do everything possible to make it a success (expediting 
services etc.), but Dr. Steiger's staff should be made aware 
that the normal range of support provided by most Embassies 
is limited here. 
 
3.  Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders. 
Meece