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DE RUEHC #4749 0701827
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 101820Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 0000
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0000
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0000

UNCLAS STATE 024749 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM CG XA ZF
SUBJECT: DRC-- INSTRUCTION CABLE ON FDLR RESOLUTION FOR 
MARCH 10 CONSULTATIONS 
 
¶1.  Action Request:  USUN is instructed to seek the changes 
in paragraph 2 on the draft resolution on the 
Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) Revision 
1 (draft text provided in paragraph 4).  USUN may 
draw from the talking points in paragraph 3 in its efforts to 
secure the changes.  If all substantive changes are 
obtained, USUN should co-sponsor the text.  End Action 
Request. 
 
¶2.  TEXT CHANGES: 
 
-- PP5: We see little value added by this paragraph.  It 
takes the focus off the purpose of this resolution and 
should be deleted.  Resolution 1325 concerns are addressed in 
PP4 and OP1 ter.  Resolution 1612 concerns are 
addressed in OP1 bis.  That being said, the U.S. can live 
with the paragraph if other delegations feel strongly 
about it. 
 
-- PP9: The Department appreciates USUN's efforts to remove 
language in the paragraph about Laurent Nkunda. 
This continues to be a redline for the Department, and USUN 
should fight any efforts to reinsert it. 
 
PP9: USUN should push for the deletion of PP9.  Our fall back 
position is to delete the last two phrases of the 
paragraph, "underscoring that the statements of commitment," 
and "calling on the signatories to the Goma 
statements of commitment to implement them fully."  We want 
to avoid any references to Goma in this resolution. 
This resolution is about the FDLR and other Rwandan armed 
groups.  These groups have not signed the Goma Agreement 
so references to it are unnecessary.  If, and only if, we 
cannot get deletion of this language, we can offer the 
following alternative: Leave in the middle phrase 
("underscoring") and change final phrase to "Calling on the 
signatories to the Goma statements of commitment to take 
immediate action in support thereof." 
 
-- OP1 ter: Delete "Calls" replace with "Demands." 
 
-- OP1 ter: Delete "to take special measures to protect women 
and girls from gender-based violence," and replace 
with "to immediately stop all forms of gender-based violence," 
 
-- OP5: Push to have the previous iteration of OP5 in the 
zero draft reinstated.  We have several problems with the 
paragraph as it is currently written.  One, we do not support 
the change of "undertakes to consider."  The 
original language of "expresses its intention to review these 
measures with a view to expanding..." is stronger. 
Further, we cannot accept the insertion of "including 
political guidance," which comes too close to infringing on 
the right of free speech and raises U.S. Constitutional 
concerns.  This is a redline and must be deleted. 
 
-- OP5 bis: Delete entire paragraph.  The statement is too 
broad.  The Sanctions Committee needs to retain some 
flexibility for sanction decisions.  Suggest adding "and 
taking into consideration participation in DDRRR" 
after "as appropriate" in OP5 as an alternative. 
 
-- OP6: Insert "illegal" before "Congolese militias". 
 
-- OP7: We need to return to the original language.  In other 
words, delete "political support" replace with 
"other forms of support."  Again, this is too close to 
infringing on 1st Amendment concerns.  We cannot accept 
this.  This is a redline.  However, we do want to retain the 
paragraph and do not support its deletion. 
 
-- OP9:  USUN should seek deletion of OP9.  This resolution 
is about the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and 
other Rwandan armed groups.  These groups have not signed the 
Goma Agreement, so the reference to Goma does 
not make sense and should be removed. 
 
¶3.  USUN may draw from the following talking points to 
support its efforts to secure the above changes. 
 
Begin points: 
 
--  PP5: We see little value added to this paragraph.  In 
fact, it takes our focus off the core issue at hand.  We 
have already incorporated 1325 concerns in PP4 and OP1 ter 
and 1612 concerns in OP1 bis.  We do not believe this 
paragraph is necessary. 
 
-- PP9: (Only if there is an attempt to reinsert Nkunda 
reference) The United States cannot support this 
resolution if it contains a reference to Laurent Nkunda.  The 
United States and our partners in the region are 
trying very hard to implement the Goma Agreement, and worked 
very hard to secure the cooperation of Laurent 
Nkunda and others in that Agreement.  The reference to 
Laurent Nkunda or other signatories of the Goma Agreement 
would be interpreted by them as an insult from the UNSC 
despite their willingness to take the first step to end 
the ongoing crisis in the eastern DRC by signing the 
Agreement.  Inclusion of this language could even lead 
Nkunda and others to withdraw from the Agreement, further 
destabilizing the region.  Therefore, the United States 
cannot support this resolution with references to Nkunda and 
other armed groups who have signed the Goma Agreement. 
 
-- PP9: The objective of this resolution is to persuade the 
FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and other Rwandan 
armed groups in the DRC to disarm.  None of these groups has 
signed the Goma Agreement.  References to the Goma 
Agreement here are completely out of context and take our 
focus off the goal of the resolution.  The Council has 
already adopted a PRST on the Goma Agreement, and we can deal 
with it again in the future if need be.  Let's stay 
focused on the purpose of this resolution. 
 
-- (If we are unsuccessful in removing the references to Goma 
in the para)  If we must focus on the Goma Agreement, it 
is more effective to urge immediate action by the principal 
parties to the document (Government of the DRC and 
participating armed groups) than to make general statements. 
 
-- OP1: We feel it is a little unusual to call on the 
perpetrators of gender-based violence to protect the 
victims.  Demanding these groups stop perpetrating 
gender-based violence is more appropriate. 
 
-- OP5: We have several problems with this paragraph as it is 
currently written and would like to return to the zero 
draft.  First, we feel "undertakes to consider" is too weak. 
The original version is much better.  Secondly, "political 
guidance" is too vague and it raises concerns regarding 
freedom of speech and expression.  Providing 
"assistance" or "support" is general enough and, as 
appropriate, the Council can define what forms of support 
are sanctionable when it decides to expand the sanctions. 
 
-- OP5 bis: This paragraph is too categorical and takes too 
much discretion away from the Sanctions Committee about 
whom it can sanction.  The Sanctions Committee needs to 
retain some flexibility for sanction decisions.  We 
suggest adding "and taking into consideration participation 
in DDRRR" after "as appropriate" in OP5 as 
an alternative. 
 
-- OP7: We need to return to the original language in the 
zero text.  Political support runs afoul of our First 
Amendment concerns.  If it is left as "other support" states 
could decide for themselves which acts are covered. 
 
-- OP9: The United States also cannot support this paragraph. 
 Again, the purpose of this resolution is to 
get the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and other Rwandan armed 
groups to disarm.  These groups have not signed the Goma 
Agreement.  Therefore, it makes no sense for the Security 
Council to express in this resolution its intention to 
monitor the implementation of the Goma commitments. 
 
end points 
 
¶4.  The following is the complete text of the FDLR Resolution 
Rev. 1.  USUN should press for the changes 
listed in paragraph 2. 
 
Begin text: 
 
Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 
1649 (2005), 1771 (2007), 1794 (2007) and 1797 
(2008), and the statements by its President concerning the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes 
region, 
 
Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial 
integrity and political independence of the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda as well as 
all States in the region, 
 
Recognizing that the continued presence of the Forces 
d,mocratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR), (RUD-Unana) 
ex-Rwandan Armed Forces (ex-FAR)/Interahamwe, and other 
Rwandan armed groups (referred to in the Nairobi 
Communiqu,) operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of 
the Congo continues to pose a serious threat to the 
peace and security of the entire Great Lakes region, 
 
(Deploring the persistence of violations of human rights and 
international humanitarian law carried out by the 
FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and other Rwandan armed groups 
operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
condemning in particular sexual violence perpetrated by those 
groups,) 
 
(Recalling its resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and 
security, its resolution 1612 (2005) on children in armed 
conflict and the subsequent conclusions of the Security 
Council Working Group on Children And Armed Conflict 
pertaining to parties in the armed conflict of the Democratic 
Republic of Congo (S/AC.51/2007/17),) 
 
Recognizing the commitment and sustained efforts of the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda, 
other countries of the region and their international 
partners to solve their common security concerns and 
achieve and sustain regional peace and stability, as 
expressed in particular in the joint communiqu, of the 
Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the 
Republic of Rwanda signed in Nairobi on 9 November 
2007 ("the Nairobi communiqu,") and the Conclusions of the 
high-level meeting of the Tripartite Plus Joint Commission 
held in Addis Ababa on 4 and 5 December 2007, 
 
Recalling the signing in Nairobi on 15 December 2006 of the 
Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the 
Great Lakes Region, and underscoring the commitments not to 
support rebel armed groups and to cooperate with a view 
to disarming and dismantling existing rebel armed groups, 
 
Welcoming the decision of the Government of the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo to hold a meeting in Kisangani to 
address the issue of the presence of FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe 
and other Rwandan armed groups in the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo, 
 
Expressing also its grave concern at the continued presence 
of other armed groups and militias in the eastern 
part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which 
perpetuate a climate of insecurity in the whole region, 
underscoring that the statements of commitment (Actes 
d'engagement) signed in Goma on 23 January 2008, together 
with the Nairobi communiqu,, represent a major step towards 
the restoration of lasting peace and stability in 
the Great Lakes region, and calling on the signatories to the 
Goma statements of commitment to implement them 
fully, 
 
¶1. Demands that all members of the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, 
and other Rwandan armed groups 
operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo 
immediately lay down their arms and present themselves to 
Congolese authorities and the United Nations Organization 
Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) 
for their disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, 
resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR); 
 
(1bis. Demands also that the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and 
other Rwandan armed groups  operating in the eastern 
Democratic Republic of the Congo immediately stop recruiting 
and using children and release all children 
associated with them; ) 
 
(1ter. Calls on the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and other 
Rwandan armed groups  operating in the eastern Democratic 
Republic of the Congo to take special measures to protect 
women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly 
rape and other forms of sexual abuse, and all other forms of 
violence; ) 
 
¶2. Recalls MONUC's mandate to facilitate the voluntary 
demobilization and repatriation of disarmed foreign 
combatants and their dependents, and to use all necessary 
means, within the limits of its capacity and in the areas 
where its units are deployed, to support operations led by 
the FARDC integrated brigades with a view to disarming the 
recalcitrant armed groups in order to ensure their 
participation in the disarmament, demobilization, 
repatriation, resettlement and reintegration process; 
 
¶3. Calls upon the Governments of the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda to intensify their 
cooperation to implement their commitments under the Nairobi 
communiqu,, in particular with a view to creating 
the conditions conducive to the repatriation of demobilized 
combatants; 
 
¶4. Recalls that the targeted measures including a travel ban 
and an asset freeze imposed by paragraphs 13 and 15 of 
resolution 1596 (2005) were extended by resolutions 1649 
(2005) and 1698 (2006) to apply in particular to political 
and military leaders of armed groups operating in the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo who impede the 
disarmament and the voluntary repatriation or resettlement of 
combatants belonging to those groups; 
 
¶5. Stresses that the measures described in paragraph 4 above 
are applicable to leaders of the FDLR, 
ex-FAR/Interahamwe and other Rwandan armed groups designated 
in accordance with the provisions of those 
resolutions, and undertakes to consider to expanding their 
applicability, as appropriate, to other members of the 
FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe or other Rwandan armed groups 
operating in the territory of the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo or to persons providing assistance, including 
political guidance, to them; 
 
5bis. Notes that the measures described in paragraph 4 above 
are note intended to apply to those 
presenting themselves to Congolese authorities and the United 
Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo (MONUC), voluntarily and without preconditions, 
for their disarmament, demobilization, 
repatriation, resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR); 
 
¶6. Stresses that the arms embargo imposed by resolution 1493 
(2003), as expanded by resolution 1596 (2005), 
prohibits the provision of arms and any related materiel or 
technical training and assistance to all foreign armed 
groups and Congolese militias in the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo, including the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe, and 
other Rwandan armed groups; 
 
(7. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures 
to prevent the provision by their nationals or 
from their territories of any financial, technical or 
political support to or for the benefit of the FDLR, 
ex-FAR/Interahamwe or other Rwandan armed groups operating in 
the territory of the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo;) 
 
¶8. Reiterates its call on all States to intensify cooperation 
with and render all necessary assistance to 
the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; 
 
(9. Expresses its intention to also continue to monitor 
closely the implementation of the Goma commitments;) 
 
¶10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. 
 
end text 
RICE