VZCZCXRO7244
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0058 0211420
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211420Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7396
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM MOPS PREL CG
SUBJECT:    Major breakthrough as CNDP agrees 
            to sign Kivus Conference Declaration 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  After intense discussions with leaders of the 
Kivus Conference late January 20 and early January 21, CNDP agreed 
that it would sign the final conference declaration with some 
additional text changes.  There remain the issues of getting other 
armed groups on board, and approval of the final declaration in 
plenary, but conference leaders hope that there can be a signing and 
final ceremony on January 22.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Conference leaders Father Apollinaire Malu Malu and 
National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe convoked international 
representatives late morning January 21 to give the news that, after 
three days' discussion, the CNDP had agreed to a final declaration 
by the Kivus Conference, which would hopefully be signed and come to 
its ceremonial conclusion January 22.  Significantly present at the 
meeting, but not speaking, was the Minister of State for Interior 
Kalume, as well as conference leaders Azarias Ruberwa and Bishop 
Jean-Luc Kuye Ndondo. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Kamerhe said that the three days' of meetings with the 
CNDP had focused on issues within all five headings of the proposed 
final declaration:  ceasefire, disengagement of troops, actions on 
humanitarian affairs and human rights, brassage and DDR, and 
political and judicial guarantees.  On the first day of discussions 
agreement had been reached on the need for cessation of hostilities 
by all military forces and on general modalities involving movement 
of MONUC into critical areas.  There had also been rapid agreement 
on humanitarian actions and human rights (including recruitment of 
child soldiers).  A technical commission would be set up, with 
involvement of UN agencies, to ensure return of IDP's and refugees 
and elaborate a timetable therefore. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Kamerhe said that issues of disengagement/ brassage and 
political/judicial guarantees had been more difficult.  He said that 
the conference leaders had just emerged from final discussions with 
CNDP and come to agreement on disengagement and guarantees.  A 
technical commission would be set up that would monitor the whole 
process leading from disengagement to brassage and DDR, covering 
status of troops and reintegration into the army.  The parties 
agreed that MONUC would enter areas that were demilitarized and 
timetables would be established for relocation of troops.  Military 
barriers now obstructing traffic would be removed.  The 
international community would be incorporated into the technical 
commission.  The government would fulfill its obligations under the 
Nairobi communiqu to address the FDLR problem with urgency. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Kamerhe said that the most difficult issue had been 
amnesty.  There had been some initial confusion on what type of 
amnesty could be guaranteed.  It was finally agreed that the final 
declaration would call on the government to present a "projet de 
loi" (draft law) to the legislature on amnesty for insurrection or 
political acts, which would have no effect on crimes of war or 
against humanity. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Kamerhe said that the conference leaders would now engage 
the other armed groups in similar discussions but he hoped that a 
plenary could begin in the course of the day.  Kamerhe noted that 
CNDP had asked for a separate accord, but he had insisted that the 
conference documents, one for North Kivu and one (almost identical) 
for South Kivu, cover all armed groups and ethnic communities. 
Ending conflict required a global approach.  Malu Malu said that the 
conference plenary would produce a series of resolutions in addition 
to the main declaration. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Senior Adviser to the Assistant Secretary for African 
Affairs Tim Shortley asked in what specific areas the international 
community could be most helpful and noted that it was essential to 
get maximum publicity of this momentous event, including using the 
forum of the upcoming African Union summit.  Kamerhe said that the 
significant presence and strong involvement of the international 
community had been essential to the unfolding success of the 
conference, but it would be even more important for the 
international community to be strongly involved in the aftermath. 
The UNSC and capitals would need to make a strong statement of 
support.  MONUC would need to move its forces rapidly into the area 
and play, with others in the international community, a central role 
in the technical commissions established by the conference. 
Financial and diplomatic support would be essential for resolving 
the humanitarian crisis, pacification, and reconstruction of the 
Kivus - effectively, a Marshall Plan.  Kamerhe said that Shortley's 
role had been vital in the success of the conference. 
 
Brock