Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

Search

 

Cablegate: Minutes of the August 22 Meeting of The

VZCZCXRO9850
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0704/01 2401614
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271614Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8347
INFO 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000704

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: Minutes of the August 22 Meeting of the
Joint Monitoring Group Task Force

Following are minutes of the August 22, meeting:

Begin Minutes

SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING

Joint Monitoring Group
36th Meeting of the TASK FORCE

Goma, 22 August 2008

The thirty sixth meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group Task Force
(JMG/TF) was held in Goma on 22 August 2008, as scheduled. The major
highlights were: a) Presentation of reconciled repatriation figures
by DDRRR, b) Recommendations for JMG/TF field visits and c)
Discussions on the next field visit.

In attendance were representatives of GoDRC, GoRwa as well as the
AU, US, RSA, EU, and the UN. The Congolese delegation was led by
Col. Augustine Mamba and the Rwandan delegation led by Mr. J.
Damascene Rudasingwa. EU was represented by Mr. Bernard Sexe, USA by
Mr. Haywood Rankin, the AU by Lt. Col. Capo Chi-chi Jean, UN by
Archibald Moiwo, RSA by Ms Mpho MASETLHA and EUSEC by Lt Col Dierckx
Rudi. The EU representative Mr. Bernard SEXE chaired the meeting.
Noted was the absence of a representative of the ICGL.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Eight points were on the agenda:

1. Introductory Remarks
2. Elaborate recommendations for JMG /TF field visits
3. Discussion of next field visit : GoDRC and GoR
4. Recommendation to the Special Envoys
5. Minutes of the last meeting
6. AOB
7. Agenda for the next meeting
8. Closing Remarks

Summary of discussions
During the 36th meeting of the JMG /TF, the MONUC DDRRR Team Leader
for North Kivu provided reconciled figures of the repatriation of
ex-combatants and their dependants to Rwanda in July. Due to
different procedures adopted by both DDRRR and the GoR to determine
a combatant, the figures released by both sides had always not been
the same. In order to eliminate this problem the DDRRR and GoR (RDRC
have established a joint mechanism to reconcile the figures. In
addition, DDRRR now has a liaison officer based in Kigali for
coordinating DDRRR activities in Rwanda. The officer will have
monthly reconciliation activities with the Rwandan Demobilization
and Reinsertion Commission (RDRC). The first reconciliation for 97
persons repatriated in July gave the following result: 25 out of 62
combatants and 22 out of 35 dependants cleared by MONUC DDRRR
qualified in Rwanda. A total of 49 persons (36 ex-combatants and 13
dependants) cleared by MONUC DDRRR were not cleared in Rwanda. At
the time of this report, the status of one person still remained
undetermined by Rwanda. Both Rwanda and DDRRR have however found a
reconciliation mechanism to resolve this problem.

UNHCR in Rwanda takes care of persons not classified as
ex-combatants. In addition, UNHCR and DDRRR have jointly developed a
mechanism to help detect up to 98% of persons who recycle from DRC
to Rwanda in order to benefit multiple times from demobilization
/reinsertion packages.

-- Recommendations for JMG /TF field visits
Due to certain security concerns raised from the last JMG/TF field
visit to Kasiki on 31 July, the TF agreed that a field visit plan
must be developed before the TF undertakes any future field trip.
The plan will determine the objective, place, security measures and
who takes care of the security. The meeting had a unanimous
decision that no non-MONUC or non-FARDC armed elements must be
present at the visit site. FARDC, MONUC or both must provide
security at any visit site. Further, the TF agreed that no
information should be propagated about the visit and all
communication with the media must be through or by the Chairperson.


-- Next field visit
On the question of places and times of visit, the TF agreed that
field visits must be based on developments in the Nairobi Accord.
The GoR delegation has already started consultations with the RDRC
for possible sites for the next visit. The TF agreed that it was
important to have a mission to Rwanda in order to get concrete
information on preparations and facilities for demobilized people.

-- Recommendations to the Special Envoys

KINSHASA 00000704 002 OF 002


No recommendations were given by the JMG-TF.

-- Minutes of the last meeting
After discussions on minor points, the minutes of the 35th meeting
was adopted.

-- Agenda of next meeting
The new points on the agenda include:
- Proposal by GoR for next field visit
- Evaluation of the JMG/TF activities in the
implementation of the Nairobi Communique since the last
Special Envoys meeting on 4 June 2008.

-- AOB
Due to lack of consensus on an agreeable day other than Friday for
JMG/TF meetings, the TF agreed to maintain Friday.

End minutes

GARVELINK

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.