Cablegate: Gdrc Delegation Departs for Libreville

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008492

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CG
SUBJECT: GDRC DELEGATION DEPARTS FOR LIBREVILLE

REF: KINSHASA 8417

1. ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL STATEMENTS, OVER 200 GDRC DELEGATES
DEPARTED KINSHASA FOR LIBREVILLE ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20.
PRESIDENT KABILA REPORTEDLY FLEW SEPARATELY TO THE GABONESE
CAPITAL THE FOLLOWING MORNING, DECEMBER 21.

2. OPPOSITION FIGURES CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT THEY WILL
BOYCOTT THE "PRE-DIALOGUE." NONO LUTULA, SPECIAL ADVISOR TO
PRESIDENT KABILA, COMPLAINED IN AN INTERVIEW ON RFI DECEMBER
21 THAT THE EXTERNAL OPPOSITION HAD REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE
DESPITE HAVING RECENTLY REQUESTED TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT
KABILA.

3. KINSHASA PAPERS CONTINUE TO LAMPOON THE LIBREVILLE
MEETING. "LE POTENTIEL" PUBLISHED AN EDITORIAL THAT
DELIBERATELY MISINTERPRETED THE PURPOSE OF THE EVENT,
SUGGESTING THAT NOW ALL OF THE OTHER PARTIES WOULD HAVE TO
PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE REAL DIALOGUE BY HAVING THEIR OWN
"PRE-DIALOGUE" MEETINGS. "LE PHARE" RAN A CARTOON OF
PRESIDENT BONGO WORRYING ABOUT WHERE HE WOULD LODGE EVERYONE
IF KABILA, BEMBA, WAMBA, ONUSUMBA TSHISEKEDI, THE EXTERNAL
OPPOSITION, ETC, ETC ALL BROUGHT DELEGATIONS OF OVER 200
PEOPLE.
SWING

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