Cablegate: Media Placement - Press Release On U.S. Military

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

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001510

SIPDIS

FOR INR/R/MR; AF/C; AF/PD; AF/PA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC KPAO PGOV PINS CG MAP
SUBJECT: MEDIA PLACEMENT - PRESS RELEASE ON U.S. MILITARY
ASSISTANCE TO THE DRC, JULY 21, 2004

1. On July 21, 2004 PAS Kinshasa distributed a press release
on the U.S. military assistance to the Democratic Republic
of the Congo. The English text of the release is as follows:

"The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the successful
visit of a team from the Defense Institute of International
Legal Studies (DIILS) to Kinshasa. This team visited
Kinshasa from July 12-16th. The purpose of this visit was to
plan a series of approximately four seminars to be held in
the DRC over the next two years, beginning this October.
DIILS promotes dialogue and exchange between the U.S.
military and foreign military and civilian authorities in
order to help develop professional and responsible armed
services. DIILS helps develop military justice systems,
emphasizing the importance of the rule of law as well as the
key role of civil-military relations, including civilian
oversight and control of the military. DIILS will also bring
Congolese military and civilian personnel to the U.S. for
training.

The visit of the DIILS team marks a major step forward in
the resumption of military cooperation between the DRC and
the U.S. The USG is engaging in a number of other military
educational and exchange programs with the DRC, and it looks
forwards to an expanded military relationship with the DRC,
reflecting the DRC's key role in bringing peace and
stability to the Great Lakes region."

2. The French version of the press release appeared in the
Kinshasa newspapers listed below. The general headline for
these placements was "Assistance Militaire du Gouvernement
Des Etats-Unis d'Amerique a la Republique Democratique du
Congo" ("U.S. Military Assistance to the DRC").

a. The independent La Reference Plus, July 22nd edition,
page 6.

b. The pro-UDPS (opposition) Le Phare, July 22nd edition,
page 3.

c. The pro-PPRD (former government) L'Avenir, July 22nd
edition, page 3.

d. The pro-"Forces du Futur" (opposition) "Forum des As",
July 22nd edition, page 4.

e. The independent Le Potentiel, July 22 edition, page 3.

f. The pro-PPRD Uhuru, July 23rd-25th edition, page 5.

g. The independent La Prosperite, July 23rd edition,
page 8.

h. The pro-PPRD L'Observateur, July 23rd-25th edition,
page 2.

i. The pro-"Forces du Futur" (opposition) "Forum des As",
July 23rd edition, page 2.

j. The pro-opposition La Cloche, July 23rd-26th, and July
26th-28th editions, respectively page 6 and page 4.

Meece

© Scoop Media