VZCZCXRO8282
RR RUEHBZ
DE RUEHBZ #0406 2781705
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051705Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0781
INFO RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0293
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0861

UNCLAS BRAZZAVILLE 000406 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR AF/C CBARGERON, JSWAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL PINR EAID PHUM SCUL MARR CF
SUBJECT: BRAZZA IN BRIEF FOR OCTOBER 5, 2007 
 
¶1. (U) Post celebrated the completion of a high school 
renovation by the U.S. Navy Seabees Detachment from Sigonella, 
Sicily.  After thanking the Seabees, the Ambassador pointed out 
that this was the first cooperative effort between members of 
the U.S. and Congolese Armed Forces and that their success will 
lead to future projects. Post will provide additional 
information in follow-up report. 
 
¶2. (U) Transparency: After more than two years of administrative 
procedures and delays, the RoC National Executive Secretariat 
and the Consultative Group (EITI), led by Michel OKOKO, 
Hydrocarbon Adviser to the Minister of Finances, announced the 
launch of the transparency initiatives mandated in accordance 
with the 
RoC's HPIC program with the IMF and in accordance with the World 
Bank.  Mr. Okoko announced that the ROC is publishing revenues 
of what they are paid by oil companies. Under the EITI, the GRoC 
will be required to retain an independent auditor, which they 
plan to do. RoC became a signatory to the EITI in January 2004. 
 
¶3. (U) Cooperative agreements: Nicholas Norman, Ambassador of 
the Republic of France (RoF), announced that the RoF and RoC 
Document of Partnership (DCP) for the years 2007-2011 will 
concentrate on transportation infrastructure, focusing on the 
Ports of Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville and the management of the 
national railway. The second focal point will be education, 
specifically vocational training. Regarding health, the RoF will 
reinforce of the capacities of the major hospital in Brazzaville 
and assist with the implementation of a medical insurance 
system. 
 
¶4. And more agreements:  Wo Ruidi, Republic of China Ambassador, 
signed an agreement with the RoC Ministry of Higher Education to 
finance the construction of a library at the Marien Ngouabi 
University; the cost is estimated at US$4 million. Charles 
Bowao, a representative of the RoC Ministry of Cooperation, 
Humanitarian Action, and Solidarity, met with representatives of 
both Morocco and Norway to solidify investments. Morocco pledged 
US$650,000 to finance as of yet unspecified projects in the RoC. 
No details were available of the meeting with the Norwegian 
delegation. A South Korean firm known as Core Mining Congo Ltd 
was given a license to mine iron ore in the northern Sangha area 
of RoC. Two locomotive cars made in China were donated to the 
Ministry of Transport; the two cars, estimated to cost 
US$1,500,000 were jointly financed by the RoC national oil 
company and a Chinese company which is in charge of the 
construction of the power station of Imboulou. The Minister for 
Energy, Bruno Itoua, met with a delegation of Spanish 
businessmen led by David Querol Ballesta of Grupo Inmobiliario; 
this meeting was a sequel to meetings held in May 2007 in which 
the two parties discussed investment in small and medium-sized 
companies and the Congolese craft industry. 
 
¶5. (U) Sudan: Mohamed Fadlalla, Republic of Sudan Honorary 
Consul, presented official documents to Aimi Clovis Guilloud, 
Director of Diplomatic Protocol and Consular Affairs, to 
establish a diplomatic presence in the RoC. 
 
¶6. (U) Agricultural Loans: Development Bank of Central African 
States (BDEAC) announced that BDEAC will provide loans totaling 
US$45,000 to two agricultural projects near Brazzaville. The 
funds are to be used to cultivate plants known for mineral and 
vitamin content to help fight various diseases such as anemia 
and diabetes. 
 
WEISBERG