Cablegate: Demarche On U.S. Draft Resolution On "Condemning

VZCZCXRO4633
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1171 2751408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021408Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6976
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0543

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001171

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR LLUM (IO/RHS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PHUM SOCI KWMN CG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON U.S. DRAFT RESOLUTION ON "CONDEMNING
THE USE OF RAPE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF STATE POLICY"

REF: A. STATE 135255
B. KINSHASA 948

1. (U) The Charge delivered demarche as requested ref A to
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs/Acting Minister Alain
Lubamba on October 1. (Note: Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa
has not yet returned from his trip to New York with President
Joseph Kabila to attend the General Assembly. End note.)

2. (U) The Acting Minister expressed enthusiastic support for
the proposed resolution. He stated that the issue of rape is
a serious problem, especially in eastern DRC, and it is
necessary to take action to bring it to an end. He stated
that the GDRC is committed to international justice and the
protection of human dignity and life. He promised to call
the DRC representatives to the UN that very day to instruct
them to work with the U.S. on this resolution. Lubamba did
not commit the DRC to co-sponsorship but made clear his
government would fully support our efforts. He also
indicated that he understood the importance of fending off
superfluous amendments and that we could count on DRC support
in that area as well.

3. (U) As is standard practice in the DRC, the Charge met
with the press at the conclusion of the meeting. He
reiterated many of the points made in the demarche and
emphasized the need for international cooperation in the
effort to end the use of rape as an instrument of state
policy.

4. (U) Comment. The subject of rape by military forces is
an emotional subject in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
characterized the situation in the Kivu provinces as "the
worst crisis I have encountered so far" during a July press
conference in Kinshasa (ref B). Although Lubamba is only
acting minister, we believe the Congolese mission to the UN
will prove to be a willing partner -- and co-sponsor -- in
the effort to get this resolution adopted. End comment.
BROCK

© Scoop Media