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Congo, Democratic Republic of the - Relations with U.S. (Notes)

U.S.-CONGOLESE RELATIONS Its dominating position in Central Africa makes stability in the D.R.C. an important part of overall stability in the region. The United States supports the transitional government and encourages peace, prosperity, democracy, and respect for human rights in the D.R.C. The United States remains a partner with the D.R.C. and other central African nations in their quest for stability and growth on the continent. From the start of the Congo crisis, the United States has pursued an active diplomatic strategy in support of these objectives. In the long term, the United States seeks to strengthen the process of internal reconciliation and democratization within all the states of the region to promote stable, developing, and democratic nations with which it can work to address security interests on the continent and with which it can develop mutually beneficial economic relations. The United States appointed its current ambassador to the D.R.C. in 2001. The D.R.C. appointed its current ambassador to the United States in 2000. There is no current U.S. direct bilateral aid to the Government of the Congo. USAID’s 2003 program in the D.R.C. totaled $102 million, which was used by international and local NGOs for a wide range of relief and developmental activities throughout the country. The Congo has been on the State Departments travel advisory list since 1977. Principal U.S. Officials Ambassador--Aubrey Hooks Deputy Chief of Mission--James Swan The U.S. Embassy is located at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa (tel. 243-081-2255872; fax 243-88-43805). Mailing address is American Embassy Kinshasa, Box 31550, APO AE 09828.