Cablegate: Morjane Addresses Diplomatic Community

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

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008501

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CG
SUBJECT: MORJANE ADDRESSES DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY

REF: KINSHASA 8455

1. AMBASSADOR MORJANE ADDRESSED THE ENTIRE DIPLOMATIC
COMMUNITY DECEMBER 21 TO SUMMARIZE THE POLITICAL/MILITARY
SITUATION IN THE DRC AT YEAR'S END, AND TO COMMUNICATE THE
DIRECTION OF MONUC IN LIGHT OF UNSC RESOLUTION 1332.

2. OVERALL, MORJANE VIEWED THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY IN THE
DRC AS "POSITIVE" COMPARED WITH THE END OF LAST YEAR, AND
SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE RECENT SERIES OF REGIONAL
DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT THE PEACE PROCESS -- MAPUTO
I AND II; THE KINSHASA FRANCOPHONE CHIEFS OF STATE MEETING;
TRIPOLI; THE LUSAKA JPC MEETING; AND THE RECENT SIGNATURE OF
DISENGAGEMENT "SUB-PLANS" AT HARARE. HOWEVER, MORJANE
EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO SEE THESE INITIATIVES "COORDINATED
TOWARD THE SAME GOAL." MORJANE VIEWED THE CURRENT MEETINGS
IN LIBREVILLE POSITIVELY AS WELL, BUT URGED THAT PARTICIPANTS
IN THIS AND OTHER INITIATIVES MAINTAIN A COMMON POINT OF
REFERENCE: THE LUSAKA ACCORDS. HE ALSO OBSERVED THAT ONLY
THREE OF THE HARARE SIGNATORIES HAD ACTUALLY ISSUED
DISENGAGEMENT ORDERS TO THEIR FORCES.

3. WITH REGARD TO UNSC RESOLUTION 1332, MORJANE WAS PLEASED
TO SEE THAT INITIATIVES HE HAD REQUESTED, AND HAD EXPRESSED
DIRECTLY TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL, HAD BEEN INCORPORATED INTO
THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION. THE UNSC, HE SAID, HAD DECIDED
"TO GIVE THE PARTIES ANOTHER CHANCE -- TO PROVE THEIR GOOD
FAITH." HE SPECIFICALLY CITED UNSCR 1332'S PROVISION FOR A
POSSIBLE MEETING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL WITH SIGNATORIES IN
FEBRUARY TO REVIEW PROGRESS IN DISENGAGEMENT, DISARMAMENT,
AND WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN FORCES. HE POINTED OUT THAT
PARAGRAPH 18 EXPRESSED CLEARLY THE POSSIBILITY OF
CONSEQUENCES FOR INACTION IN THE FACE OF MOUNTING
"INTERNATIONAL FRUSTRATION."

4. MORJANE MADE A SPECIAL POINT TO EXPRESS HIS GRAVE CONCERN
THAT ZAMBIA MIGHT BE PULLED INTO THE DRC CONFLICT DUE TO THE
CURRENT FIGHTING ALONG ITS BORDER. THE AMBASSADOR OPINED
THAT THE CRISIS HAD REACHED A PARTICULARLY DELICATE MOMENT,
AND SAID THAT "ALL ACTIONS MUST BE BALANCED TOWARD A
SOLUTION." FOR HIS PART, THE SRSG SAID THAT HE PLANNED TO
PUT A PERMANENT TEAM IN ZAMBIA NEAR THE BORDER IN VIEW OF THE
SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM THERE.

5. MORJANE FINISHED HIS ADDRESS BY LAUNCHING AN APPEAL FOR
TROOPS TO REPLACE THE TWO BATTALIONS FROM PAKISTAN ORIGINALLY
FORSEEN FOR THE DRC BUT SINCE SENT TO SIERRA LEONE. THERE ARE
NOW, HE SAID, ONLY TWO BATALLIONS SLATED TO COME TO THE DRC,
ONE FROM SENEGAL AND ONE FROM MOROCCO.

6. AMBASSADOR MORJANE MADE A SPECIAL APPEAL FOR RIVERINE
UNITS -- BOATS AND CREWS -- TO REPLACE THE ITALIAN UNITS
(PROMISED BUT LATER WITHDRAWN) TO HELP REOPEN THE CONGO RIVER
TO COMMERCE BETWEEN MBANDAKA AND KISANGANI -- TWO SITES
SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN UNSCR 1332 (OPERATIVE PARAGRAPH
EIGHT). MORJANE SAID THAT HE VIEWS AS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL
THE "RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTACT AMONG THE PROVINCES."
SWING

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