Cablegate: War of the Dip Notes Continues

VZCZCXRO1522
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0916 2961342
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221342Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8649
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 KINSHASA 000916

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS CG RW
SUBJECT: WAR OF THE DIP NOTES CONTINUES

REF: KINSHASA 875

1. (SBU) Post has received a copy of the GDRC's diplomatic note no.
130/12/CH/0894/2008, which was sent October 9 via MONUC to the
Government of Rwanda (GOR) in response to the GOR's note of October
5 criticizing the GDRC for an "alliance" between the DRC's armed
forces and the ex-FAR/Interahamwe/FDLR. Text of the GOR's dip note
is at reftel.

2. (SBU) In this latest note the GDRC rejects GOR allegations,
which it labels not only as a provocation, but also as a maneuver to
justify the presence of Rwandan soldiers on Congolese territory.
Additionally, the GDRC note contains accusations that the GOR and
its armed forces are directly supporting Nkunda, as well as demands
that they cease this support.

3. (U) Unofficial embassy translation of the GDRC note follows:

Begin GDRC note

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the
Democratic Republic of Congo presents its compliments to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of
Rwanda and has the honor to acknowledge receipt of its note verbale
No. 0233/09.01/CAB/MIN/08 of Sunday 05 October 2008.

In this regard, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo
wishes first to express its strong disapproval and profound
indignation as to the allegations contained in the above-mentioned
note verbale. Next, it totally refutes the unfounded assertions
which not only are pure provocation but constitute a maneuver of the
Government of Rwanda aiming to justify the presence of its troops on
Congolese territory.

This dilatory maneuver is unacceptable, as it seeks to distract the
international community and the Government of the Democratic
Republic of Congo, which recently denounced the strengthening of
positions of Rwandan troops on the border shared with the Democratic
Republic of Congo and the military support of the Government of
Rwanda to the insurrectional movement of Laurent Nkunda Mihigo.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo accordingly
invites the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to strictly respect
its commitments freely engaged in through international and
bilateral legal instruments listed in the above-mentioned note
verbale, and to proceed without delay with the unconditional
withdrawal of its troops currently fighting alongside rebels led by
ex-General Laurent Nkunda Mihigo and cease all support to the
movement of the latter.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo wishes to see the
Government of the Republic of Rwanda resolve as soon as possible to
do the right thing to promote a return of stability in the region,
which is critical to the development of both countries in particular
and to the whole region in general.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the
Democratic Republic of Congo takes this opportunity to renew to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of
Rwanda the assurances of its highest consideration.

End text of unofficial translation of GDRC note

BROCK

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