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FM FCO
TO DESKBY 150645Z KINSHASA
TELNO 135
OF 14120OZ MAY 91
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022637
MDHOAN 3422
HKD 384
384/1
STRY
3 OMAY 1991
NFICER
PA
ACTO
49
YOUR TELNO 124: MAKUNZA MBALA
1.
PROCEEDINGS TO COMMIT MR LLOYD, PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY AT THE HOME OFFICE FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT HAVE BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 21 MAY. TREASURY SOLICITORS HAVE ASKED THAT AN
AFFIDAVIT IS SWORN ON BEHALF OF THE FCO SHOWING WHAT STEPS WERE
TAKEN TO FIND MBALA IN KINSHASA. THE AFFIDAVIT HAS TO BE SWORN
AND SHOWN TO COUNSEL ON 16 MAY AND SERVED ON THE OTHER SIDE BY FRIDAY 17 MAY.
2.
WE AND TREASURY SOLICITORS HAVE DRAWN UP THE FOLLOWING TEXT, BASED ON YOUR AND OUR TELS. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE
FACTUAL DETAILS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND NOT LATER THAN 1517OOZ.
TEXT BEGINS:
I, MICHAEL COOK, MEMBER OF THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE OF FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, KING CHARLES STREET, LONDON SW1, MAKE OATH AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:
1.
I AM THE HEAD OF WEST AFRICAN DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE. I HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ZAIRE CAMONG OTHER COUNTRIES) AND I MAKE THIS AFFIDAVIT IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN TO
THIS HONOURABLE COURT THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE FCO IN COOPERATION
WTIH THE EMBASSY IN KINSHASA IN CARRYING OUT THE REQUESTS OF THE
HOME OFFICE IN RELATION TO THE APPLICANT HEREIN.
I MAKE THIS AFFIDAVIT ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ME
IN THE COURSE OF MY PROFESSIONAL DUTIES.
2.
AS BACKGROUND I SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS
FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ZAIRE. HOWEVER OUR EMBASSY IN KINSHASA IS SMALL, WITH AN AMBASSADOR AND FIVE FCO DIPLOMATIC STAFF AT PRESENT THE POST OF AMBASSADOR IS VACANT AND THE FIRST
SECRETARY AND DEPUTY HEAD OF MISSION IS CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AD
INTERIM. DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE FCO AND THE EMBASSY ARE AVAILABLE EACH DAY, EXCLUDING WEEKENDS, ONLY BETWEEN 0745 AND 0830 AND 1200 AND 1330 BST. THERE IS NO RADIO LINK, AND THE POOR AND UNRELIABLE CONDITION OF THE ZAIREAN TELEPHONE AND TELEX
SYSTEM DO NOT PERMIT THE OPERATION OF ANY OUT OF HOURS CALL UP
ARRANGEMENTS. PHYSICAL COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN KINSHASA AND ZAIRE
ARE ALSO DIFFICULT. KINSHASA IS A SPRAWLING THIRD WORLD CITY OF OVER 4 MILLION PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN ANONYMOUS AND DANGEROUS SLUMS TO WHICH ACCESS IS DIFFICULT. THE PHYSICAL
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