Cablegate: Congolese Ambassador Arrives in Rwanda

VZCZCXRO0914
PP RUEHGI RUEHRN
DE RUEHLGB #0735 3100936
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 060936Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6406
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP 0097
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0304

UNCLAS KIGALI 000735

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CG RW
SUBJECT: CONGOLESE AMBASSADOR ARRIVES IN RWANDA

1. (SBU) Norbert Nkulu from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) arrived in Kigali November 2, to begin an
assignment as the DRC's ambassador to Rwanda--the first since
Presidents Kabila and Kagame took office. Ambassador met
Nkulu on November 5, at a reception during which Nkulu warmly
engaged Rwandan and other diplomatic counterparts. He said
he "attached great personal importance" to developing
relations with Rwanda and improving commercial relations
between the DRC and the East African Community. Nkulu told
Ambassador he had been "very well received" upon his arrival
in Kigali, and accepted an invitation to attend an upcoming
reception in honor of visiting Special Adviser for the Great
Lakes Dr. Howard Wolpe.

2. (SBU) BIO NOTES: Nkulu, who is temporarily residing at the
Serena Hotel in Kigali, told Ambassador that he previously
had served as minister of state for President Joseph Kabila.
He is married, with five children ranging in age from 30 to
10. He speaks French, but little English; his wife
Veronique, a lawyer by profession, speaks English fluently
and translated for him at the November 5 reception.

3. (SBU) COMMENT: The arrival of the Congolese ambassador,
whose Rwandan counterpart recently arrived in Kinshasa, is a
significant milestone in the developing relationship between
Rwanda and the DRC. It follows the groundbreaking August 6
summit, when Rwandan President Paul Kagame walked across the
border to meet in Goma with President Kabila, and reflects
ongoing contacts and increased cooperation between the two
countries, not just between security officials but also
between those dealing with energy, foreign affairs and
economic integration.
SYMINGTON

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