Ambassador Garvelink Talks to Congolese Press

from left to right Ambassador William Garvelink, DCM Samuel Brock and USAID/EXEC Stephen Haykin

Ambassador William Garvelink held a routine round-table on Tuesday, February 17, hosting some 15 journalists representing Congolese and international media.  The reporters' questions focused on the ongoing  joint military operations underway in eastern Congo against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR),  as well as foreign and humanitarian assistance to  the  D.R. Congo.  Ambassador Garvelink said that the U.S. welcomed the joint military operations along with the positive results they have produced thus far.  He discussed U.S. development and humanitarian projects totaling $700 million, including efforts to train the Congolese army. He also mentioned the U.S. government's strong financial contribution to UN operations in the  D.R. Congo.   When asked about foreign proposals for the disposition of resources in the east, Ambassador Garvelink said that the U.S. supports the sovereignty of the D.R. Congo, emphasizing that the DRC 's mineral riches must be developed efficiently with proper enviromental safeguards and for the benefit of the Congolese population.