VZCZCXRO3959
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0185/01 0521727
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211727Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7572
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000185 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO CG
SUBJECT: Goma Report February 21 - Little progress in talks with 
government and CNDP 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Meetings February 20 in Goma made little progress 
in breaking the current impasse between government and CNDP on 
implementing the Kivus Conference's Acte d'Engagement.  Vice Admiral 
Etumba, the government's chief representative, signaled possible 
willingness to increase CNDP representation on the various 
commission, but was angry at the lack of progress and the CNDP 
positions.  CNDP agreed to draft input for a second decree on the 
Technical Commission, and agreed to consult with headquarters on 
other points raised by international facilitators.  MONUC Force 
Commander Gaye warned Etumba that FARDC armor which had arrived at 
Beni should move no further.  End Summary. 
 
-------------- 
Etumba: Part I 
-------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The series of discussions involving government, CNDP and 
international facilitators began February 20 with a meeting called 
by FARDC Naval Forces chief of staff Vice Admiral Didier Etumba with 
international facilitators.  It started off calmly, with Etumba 
addressing the CNDP's concerns.  The government, he said, could not 
change the Amani decree signed earlier by President Kabila.  It was 
a program created by a sovereign government to bring life in the two 
provinces back to normal.  He called CNDP allegations of ceasefire 
violations by the 2nd Integrated Brigade "gross lies" and another 
obstacle created by the CNDP. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Etumba downplayed the declaration issued by the Congolese 
and Ugandan defense ministers January 30 in Beni which had so 
incensed the CNDP by citing it as a "negative force."  He stated 
that the Amani decree had superseded the declaration legally and 
temporally and the term "negative forces" would not be used again. 
He reiterated the government's willingness to issue a second decree, 
complaining that CNDP had still not given it anything "concrete." 
Significantly, regarding autonomy, he indicated that although they 
were all "partners in peace" regardless of military strength or 
position, the government could perhaps give the CNDP additional 
representation on the Commission, say 25 or 28 per cent of total 
seats, and, at the lower levels, 35 per cent. 
 
------------------------------------ 
GDRC requests -- and an angry Etumba 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Etumba made five requests of international facilitators: 
 
-- daily joint meetings with the CNDP so they won't "play games;" 
and 
-- minutes of the meetings to be signed by all; he also asked the 
facilitators to: 
-- play a more active role, 
-- ask the CNDP to be more concrete, and 
-- ask both sides to refrain from raising issues already decided. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Etumba presented these points calmly, but became agitated 
and angry when asked about the structure of the Commission.  He 
rejected the facilitators' conclusion that that there was not much 
difference between the positions of the two sides, and that there 
was legal "flexibility" to come together.  In a great show of pique 
and bombast, he raised his voice and launched into a harangue, 
ending by saying that "he wouldn't kill himself" just to please the 
CNDP. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
CNDP agrees to draft text for new decree 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) By contrast, international facilitators' February 21 
meeting with CNDP was restrained.  MONUC-Goma Head of Office Alpha 
Sow conveyed a series of points agreed by the facilitators in a 
non-paper, and encouraged CNDP to come forward with a new draft 
decree.  He firmly told CNDP that the government would not accept 
the 40/60 split in the make-up of the Technical Commission because 
it was irrelevant, i.e. the Commission must agree to act by 
consensus. 
 
¶7. (SBU) CNDP representatives responded that the government's 
position did not allow for much room to maneuver and that a draft 
decree was the only place they could now work.  "Either we accept 
Amani, or we have to renegotiate the Acte," said one; it was "the 
blood of our brothers" and their defeat of a FARDC force of 25,000 
that had won CNDP the right to be at the table and be treated as 
equals.  Facilitators assured CNDP that the government was showing 
some flexibility, had made some concessions, and remained committed 
 
KINSHASA 00000185  002 OF 002 
 
 
to the process.  CNDP said they would provide draft input for a new 
decree within a few days and ask for guidance on other points made 
by Sow. 
 
--------------- 
Etumba: Part II 
--------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) International facilitators notified Etumba and his team 
later than afternoon of the results of the CNDP meeting.  Etumba 
responded, "There's nothing new.  There's a lot of work to do and 
the train hasn't even left the station."  He said angrily that "we 
don't like being taken for imbeciles," stressing again that "they 
won't get everything from us, at least not from me." 
 
----------------- 
Gaye warns Etumba 
----------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) SRSG chief of staff John Almstrom provided a readout late 
in the day of a meeting between Etumba and MONUC Force Commander 
General Babacar Gaye.  Gaye told Etumba that MONUC was aware of 
movements of FARDC armor into Beni.  He said that these movements 
must stop.  Almstrom reported Etumba said they would not be moved 
further, noting "we know what condition our army is in."  Almstrom 
said that Gaye also discussed the delay in getting the Technical 
Commission up and running, and the need for agreement on 
"humanitarian gestures" to ease the suffering of the population. 
Gaye said that MONUC would be creating additional security zones to 
promote security and give the IDPs confidence to return home. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) Government and CNDP negotiators are growing increasingly 
frustrated and remain suspicious of each other.  Where the 
government sees a CNDP unwillingness to provide "concrete proposals" 
and attempts to derail the process, CNDP sees government efforts to 
control the process through the preemptory Amani decree and a 
concerted campaign to dictate the structure of the Technical 
Commission.  End comment. 
 
GARVELINK