US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1845

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001845 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT for AF/C (MAshraf) 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECON, CF, UNGA 
SUBJECT:  Congo/Brazzaville:  DELIVERY OF DEMARCHES 
 
REFTELS: (A) STATE 178316; (B) STATE 180336; (C) STATE 
199861; (D) STATE 195286; (E) STATE 180474; (F) STATE 
179062; (G) STATE 199724; (H) STATE; 189518; REF (I) 
STATE 170909; (J) STATE 192656; (K) STATE 190748; (L) 
STATE 199212; (M) STATE 169212; (N) STATE 172703; (O) 
STATE 189729; (P) STATE 187700 
 
1. The following demarches were delivered between 
October 7 and November 4. 
 
2. 60TH UNFC: Support of UNGA First Committee 
Resolution (REF A):  Econ/Cons Officer Bakken delivered 
talking points and resolution text to Mr. Felix Ngoma, 
Americas Desk Officer for the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA) on October 7.  Ngoma indicated that the 
information would be forwarded to the appropriate host- 
government officials and to the New York delegation. 
 
3. WTO/DOHA Talking Points (REF B):  Econ/Cons Officer 
delivered talking points as non-paper to Mr. Ngoma on 
October 7.  On November 4, newly-arrived CDA 
Biedlingmaier and Econ/Cons Officer delivered the non- 
papers provided, REFS (C) and (D), to Mr. Ngoma. 
He indicated that an MFA point of contact would be 
provided to the embassy if further discussion or 
clarification were required. 
 
4. WTO Agriculture Negotiations and Geographical 
Indications (REF E):  Econ/Cons Officer delivered 
talking points as a non-paper to Mr. Ngoma on October 7. 
 
(COMMENT: Post is not aware of any local food 
products/labeling which might conflict with the European 
Geographical Indications (GIs).  Local food production 
is limited primarily to the cultivation of subsistence 
agricultural products and livestock rearing.  Since most 
specialty food items are imported from Europe or South 
Africa, there is a slight possibility that changes in 
GIs might affect some consumers, but little or no impact 
would be anticipated for local producers.  Despite 
repeated overtures from embassy officers, ROC officials 
have yet to engage on this issue.  END COMMENT) 
 
5. ICJ Elections (REFs F, G):  On October 10, acting 
CDA Rutherford delivered talking points and a 
diplomatic note concerning the upcoming ICJ elections 
to Ambassador Guillond, MFA Chief of Protocol. 
Guillond said that he would pass this message to the 
delegation and stated that the ROC intended to support 
the U.S. position to re-elect Judge Buergenthal. 
 
6. Gutierrez Letter on UNESCO Cultural Diversity 
Convention (REF H):  On October 13, the letter was 
delivered to Foreign Minister Rodolphe Adada by acting 
CDA Rutherford.  Talking points from REF (I) were also 
presented at this meeting.  While interested in the 
topic, the Minister did not indicate whether ROC would 
be prepared to actively engage on this issue. 
 
7. UNESCO Cultural Diversity Vote (REF J):  The 
diplomatic note was delivered to the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs on October 19. 
 
8. U.S. Position on EU WTO Agricultural Proposal (REF 
K):  Talking points delivered as non-papers to MFA, 
Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture on 
October 21. 
 
9. Promoting Ratification of the Cape Town Convention 
(REF L):  On November 4, CDA and Econ/Cons Officer 
delivered the non-paper and fact sheet to Mr. Ngoma, 
who indicated that a point of contact would be provided 
to the embassy at a later date for follow-up action. 
 
10. Terrorism Finance (REFs M, N, O and P): On November 
4, CDA and Econ/Cons Officer provided non-papers to Mr. 
Ngoma.  In addition, post reiterated our request for a 
response regarding any steps that the host government 
takes using this information. 
 
11. Please be advised that the Embassy Brazzaville TDY 
Office currently has no access to IVG, OpenNet or GAL e- 
mail.  Embassy staff may be contacted via the following 
personal e-mail accounts or cell phone numbers: 
 
CDA Mark Biedlingmaier, carpaemarkum@hotmail.com 
 celtel: (242) 526-3562 
ECON/CONS Chelsea Bakken, bzvbakkencmh@yahoo.com 
 celtel: (242) 528-7963 
TDY MGT Susan Selbin, sselbin@hotmail.com 
 celtel: (242) 525-7387 
 
12. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Biedlingmaier. 
 
MEECE