VZCZCXRO4605
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0706/01 1760738
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250738Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6383
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000706 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSTIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO CG
SUBJECT: LUBUMBASHI TRIPARTITE PLUS MEETING NOTES 
 
REF: (A)KINSHASA 698 
 
      (B)KINSHASA 629 
     (C)BUJUMBURA 301 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Tripartite Plus Joint Commission 
Sub-Commission and Ministerial Meetings took place in Lubumbashi 
June 5-7.  Delegates from Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda joined 
Congolese officials to continue discussion of threats to regional 
security from negative forces, the Tripartite Plus Fusion Cell, the 
"Most Wanted" list, and the status of diplomatic relations.  The 
atmosphere of the talks was positive, with all delegations 
interacting comfortably.  In addition to the delegates, observer 
missions from the African Union, European Commission, European 
Union, and MONUC attended the Open Sessions of the Ministerial.  The 
next Tripartite meeting will be held in Kampala in September.  End 
summary. 
 
----------------------- 
Sub-Commission Meetings 
----------------------- 
¶2.  (SBU) The groundwork for the Ministerial Meeting was laid by 
delegates to the joint meeting of the Sub-Commissions on Defense and 
Security and on Diplomatic Affairs June 5-6.  Chaired by Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for African Affairs James Swan and DRC 
Ambassador-a-Large Seraphin Ngwej, the Sub-Commission agenda 
included strategies aimed at ending threats to regional security 
from negative forces, the Tripartite Plus Fusion Cell (TFC), 
handling "most wanted" individuals, and the status of diplomatic 
relations.  Ambassador Ngwej opened the discussions with an update 
on the security situation in DRC, including the May 28 massacre in 
South Kivu and continued threats in the east. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Sub-Commission delegates reached consensus on four 
recommendation papers to be presented at the Ministerial Meeting. 
Key points from those papers were: 
 
Negative Forces:  Political Strategies.  Members agreed to restate 
their positions on negative forces in the press release for the 
meeting in order to encourage armed groups to disarm and repatriate 
or reintegrate into their communities. 
 
--Negative Forces:  Military strategies. Member countries discussed 
the FDLR problem in eastern DRC and agreed that the DRC government 
was acting in concordance with Scenario One of the Chiefs of Defense 
(CHOD) proposals adopted in Bujumbura April 16-18 (reftel C))by 
stepping up anti-FDLR operations. They agreed the CHOD should meet 
in Kigali to review progress against the Negative Forces within two 
months. 
 
--Tripartite Fusion Cell (TFC). Member countries agreed that the TFC 
was important and also discussed the value of meeting face to face, 
in addition to the proposed virtual TFC.  They welcomed the U.S. 
decision to continue funding the TFC through March 2008. 
 
--Most Wanted List. Member states postponed until the next 
ministerial agreement on a common list because of continuing 
disagreement between the Rwandan and Ugandan delegation over the 
existence of the People's Resistance Army (PRA).  The PRA Order of 
Battle provided by the Ugandan delegation was judged insufficient 
evidence by Rwanda and the other member countries. Member countries 
proposed to submit the Order of Battle to the TFC for vetting.  In 
addition, members states decided to have their legal experts meet in 
Goma within one month to review, harmonize, and, if necessary, 
propose draft laws for acting against wanted individuals. 
 
--Diplomatic Relations. Member countries stated that there were 
bilateral discussions underway to normalize diplomatic relations. 
 
------------------- 
Ministerial Meeting 
------------------- 
¶4.  (SBU) Observer delegations from the African Union, European 
Commission, European Union, and MONUC joined the member and 
facilitator delegations for the opening session of the Ministerial 
meeting June 6.  DAS Swan and co-chair DRC Minister of State for 
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi 
made remarks on the importance of regional stability and 
cooperation.  MONUC Special Representative of the Secretary General 
William Swing spoke positively about the opportunity for peace in 
the region. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The members' only session of the Ministerial continued 
after the departure of the observer missions.  Subjects of 
particular debate included recognition of the PRA and a way to move 
forward on the "Most Wanted" list with consensus.  The Ugandan 
delegation withdrew its entire list of most wanted persons, 
 
KINSHASA 00000706  002 OF 002 
 
 
including LRA, ADF/NALU and PRA names, when the other member 
countries declined to accept the PRA list.  The GOU said it would 
submit an updated list within six weeks. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The ministers accepted most Sub-Commission draft 
recommendations with minor drafting changes.  They agreed on a 
decision document addressing each of the topics previously discussed 
by the Sub-Commission delegates as well as on a joint statement 
released at a press conference at the conclusion of the meeting June 
7 (reftel A).  The text of the Ministerial decisions was sent in 
reftel B. 
 
-------------------- 
Heads of Delegations 
-------------------- 
¶7.  (SBU) The heads of the member delegations were: 
 
Burundi - Antoinette Batumubwira, Minister of External Affairs and 
International Cooperation 
DRC - Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 
and International Cooperation 
Rwanda - General Marcel Gatsinzi, Minister of Defense 
Uganda - Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of State for Defense 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The delegations agreed that the next Tripartite Plus Joint 
Commission meeting will be held in Kampala, Uganda, September 15-17, 
¶2007. 
 
MEECE