Cablegate: Embassy Comments On Irc Opic Application

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

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001591

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR OPIC - CONAL DUFFY AND JIM WILLIAMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EINV CG OPIC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY COMMENTS ON IRC OPIC APPLICATION

1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified, Privileged Business
Information. Not for Internet distribution.

2. (SBU) Embassy Kinshasa has reviewed the application for
political risk insurance that International Rescue Committee
(IRC) has submitted to OPIC. IRC has operated in the DRC for
almost the entire duration of the civil war and continues to
operate during the reconstruction period. Overall, IRC
provides a beneficial humanitarian assistance program and
does have some activities, which, on a micro-level, promote
private ownership (Habitat for Humanity), environmental
protection (safe water well construction) and physical
infrastructure (some road and levee projects). However,
answers to number 33(c/d) are exaggerated. IRC programs are
not being implemented in the context of a government
regulatory, judicial or other institutional reform program
and neither will they result in GDRC implementation of
institutional reforms. Otherwise, Embassy Kinshasa views the
IRC application favorably and has no objections to granting
of insurance.

3. (SBU) The following responds to the specific questions
listed in the OPIC request for Embassy comments:

a. As IRC's primary operations are of humanitarian relief,
there are no potential negative public or host government
sentiment toward the project.

b. Post does not foresee possible negative impacts on U.S.
policy and interests in the DRC resulting from this project.

c. IRC is a well established NGO in the field of humanitarian
assistance. Post does not view its integrity as questionable.

d. Post does not foresee any serious adverse environmental
effects associated with the project.

e. IRC's operations do not conflict with the DRC's economic
objectives or welfare.

f. Post has no indications of uneconomic use of raw materials
or labor.

g. Subject project is of humanitarian assistance, funded by
bilateral and multilateral donors. It will not have any
affect on the DRC's balance of payments.

4. (U) Please direct questions regarding OPIC applications
that need Embassy Kinshasa assistance to Peter Newman. IVG:
934-2234, Cell: (243) 81-700-4428, Email: NewmanPD@state.gov.
MEECE

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