Cablegate: Demarche to African States On Viktor Bout

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKI #0785 2371341
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251341Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0020
INFO RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN IMMEDIATE 0044
RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA IMMEDIATE 0038
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK IMMEDIATE 0022
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA IMMEDIATE 0017

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000785

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, EUR/RUS, AF/W, AF/C and S/CT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PTER CO RS TH CG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AFRICAN STATES ON VIKTOR BOUT

REFS: A) STATE 88230 B) BANGKOK 1998

1. (U) Ambassador Garvelink was received August 25 by Foreign
Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba in the context of an appointment the
ambassador had requested to discuss a broad range of issues. Also
present were diplomatic advisor Clementine Shakembo and Americas
director Louis Lokosu Nkulufa. Ambassador was accompanied by DCM.

2. (SBU) Ambassador noted that a person of interest to the GDRC
(Bout), someone who had broken Congolese law, was being held by Thai
authorities pending resolution of an extradition request from the
U.S. The U.S. wanted him extradited where he would be duly tried
for his crimes. Ambassador asked Thambwe if the GDRC could help by
approaching the Thai government in support of the U.S. extradition
request.
3. (SBU) Thambwe expressed interest in doing this, noting that the
DRC would also like to see Bout behind bars. He asked his staff if
the RTG has an ambassador accredited to the GRDC. Their response
was negative, although the RTG may have asked to have its ambassador
in Nairobi accredited here.

4. (SBU) The foreign minister then turned to his staffers and asked
that they request a meeting for him with the Thai foreign minister
during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in New
York, where Thambwe Mwamba will head the Congolese delegation.

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