VZCZCXRO7122
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0111 0321137
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011137Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7458
INFO RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 4639
RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000111
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF PHUM CG FR
SUBJECT: French Foreign Minister visits DRC
1. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner pledged France's support
for the Kivus conference's Acte d'Engagement during his January
25-26 visit to Kinshasa and Goma and announced his government's
intention to open two new consulates in the DRC to assist in
implementing the peace process. Following their January 25 meeting
in Kinshasa, President Kabila told the press he would send all FDLR
fighters back to Rwanda, including those responsible for genocide,
and asked Kouchner to deliver that message to Rwandan President
Kigame when he arrived in Kigali.
2. Koucher expressed a desire to strengthen bilateral relations in
his meeting with Kabila, a theme he reinforced in with Prime
Minister Gizenga the same day. He expressed hope that the DRC would
host the first post-2008 Francophonie summit. He recognized that
France had been "cut off" from the DRC for several years and would
like to renew their friendship. He announced that France was ready
to make further financial commitments in addition to the $294
million it had pledged in March 2007 to assist the Congolese
education, health and environmental sectors.
3. Kouchner flew to Goma January 26, where he met with National
Assembly President Vital Kamerhe. He also visited the Mugunga IDP
camp outside of Goma and Heal Africa, a local hospital that
specializes in treating victims of sexual violence.
4. Note: Press reports indicated that the new consulates would be
situated in Goma and Bukavu. In fact, the French Embassy's political
counselor told us January 31 that his government had yet to decide
on their locations. End note.
GARVELINK