VZCZCXRO0948
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1423/01 3620923
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280923Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7307
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001423
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: Goma situation report for December 22, 2007
Note: The following report was provided by Embassy Kinshasa's
political officer in Goma. End note.
1. (SBU) Embassy acting Goma rep spent most of first day in
meetings on the upcoming Kivus Conference. Information below is
preliminary and subject to change.
Initial Notes
-------------
-- The location of the conference is the Free University of the
Great Lakes (Universite Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (ULPGL)).
-- The stated global objectives of the conference are to: (a) put
an end to the war and insecurity in the provinces of North and South
Kivu, and (b) create the basis for a durable peace and the
development of North and South Kivu.
-- Conference planners have published a 25-page document which
outlines fifteen specific objectives, fifteen expected results, and
four themes: (a) Peace, (b) Security, (c) Human and Social Issues,
and (d) Development.
-- Page six of the document provides an organizational chart
detailing where all the various actors fit in the conference.
Notably, the two Kivus will conduct their own workshops on each of
the four themes listed above.
-- The remainder of the document is a 19-page section with 63
articles, including the composition of participants, Members,
Observers, and Experts; a statement that all conferees are asked to
sign declaring their sincerity and desire for unity; the standing
Rules of Order; and Immunity of conferees from prosecution for
"opinions or votes" given during the course of the conference, as
well as the temporary suspension of judicial proceedings against
conferees ("Les poursuites judiciares eventuelles a l'encontre sont
suspendues pendant toute la duree des travaux de la Conference").
Conference Calendar
-------------------
2. (SBU) A new schedule has been elaborated. The following is an
outline:
-- 15-19 December: Preliminary work
-- 20 December: Convocation
-- 21-26 December: Preparatory work
-- 27 December: Opening Session of PrepCom
-- 28-31 December: Awareness building ("sensitization") and
Designation of Participants; Finalization of Technical
Dossier
-- 1 January: Holiday
-- 2-3 January: "Sensitization" and Designation of
Participants; Finalization of Technical Dossier
-- 4-5 January: Arrival of Participants
-- 6 January Arrival of Officials
-- 7 January Opening of Plenary Session
-- 8-10 January: Provincial Workshops
-- 11 January: Thematic Workshops
-- 12 January: Plenary Session, Adoption of Final Report
-- 13 January: Final Report
-- 14 January: Closing Session
Notes on Logistics
------------------
3. (SBU) All 384 hotel rooms in Goma are already booked for the
duration of the conference. The Ihusi hotel has no vacancies until
after the 14th of January. The remainder of the conferees and
support staff are on their own to find lodging. The Opening Session
for the Preparation of the Conference at the Ihusi hotel conference
room had nearly 500 people in attendance. Of these, only five were
apparently non-Congolese, probably from the press corps. It is
likely that many people will be unable to secure hotel
accommodations during the conference.
4. (SBU) One Logistics specialist noted that in Western nations,
this type of conference typically takes six months to plan and
execute. The UN plans to provide limited logistical support. MONUC
will provide expertise in and reference materials for the Peace and
Security workshops, while UNDP will provide the same for the
Development workshops, and OCHA will support the Humanitarian Issues
sessions. Outside of technical advice, MONUC has committed only to
provide security (via the Police and MONUC North Kivu Brigade), 200
mattresses, one generator, and five large tents to shelter the
KINSHASA 00001423 002 OF 002
conference dining area. The University has a large Auditorium and
ten large rooms suitable for the workshops. The University has 26
toilets and MONUC has offered five chemical toilets to augment this
number with 30 more on standby.
Garvelink