C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003344

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM A/S TAFT, PRM/A, PRM/AAA, AF/S, AF/PD,
WHA/CCA
NAIROBI FOR REFCOORD AND INS
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03344 201559Z
ROME FOR INS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/10
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL ZI CU
SUBJECT: UNHCR TO PROPOSE RESETTLING CUBAN DOCTORS IN
UNSPECIFIED THIRD COUNTRY

REF: A). WHITE/HEBRON TELCON 6/20/00

B). HARARE 3323

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
B/D.


1. (C) UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OLUSEYI BAJULAIYE
TOLD AMBASSADOR MCDONALD ON JUNE 20 THAT HE WOULD BE
DELIVERING THAT DAY A LETTER FROM UNITED NATIONS DEPUTY
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SOREN JESSEN-PETERSEN TO
ZIMBABWEAN VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH MSIKA THROUGH THE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THE LETTER WILL PRESENT A
CONCRETE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF THE CUBAN DOCTORS,
AND STATE THAT THE UNHCR HAS IDENTIFIED A COUNTRY FOR
THEIR IMMEDIATE RESETTLEMENT. BAJULAIYE WOULD NOT
IDENTIFY THE COUNTRY BEFORE HE HAD PROPOSED IT TO THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT. HE SAID THAT HE HOPED THAT THE
ZIMBABWEANS WOULD REACT QUICKLY AND POSITIVELY, AND
COUNTED ON HIS PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP WITH ZIMBABWEAN
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY
MACHIVENYIKA MAPURANGA TO HELP LUBRICATE THE CUBANS'
RELEASE PROCESS. HOWEVER, HE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THE
GOVERNMENT'S DISTRACTION WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY
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ELECTION, A FACT THAT COULD REQUIRE THE CUBANS TO EXTEND
THEIR STAY IN ZIMBABWE.


2. (C) THE REGIONAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE ASSURED
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THAT HIS STAFF VISITED THE CUBANS
EVERY DAY. SPEAKING "OFF THE RECORD," BAJULAIYE
(PROTECT) SAID THAT THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT
FORCIBLY REPATRIATE THE CUBANS, BUT RATHER WANTED THEM
TO "STEW" FOR A WHILE. BY MAKING THE CUBANS SUFFER, THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT WOULD SEND A SIGNAL TO OTHER
WOULD-BE DEFECTORS REGARDING THEIR CHOICE OF ZIMBABWE AS
A JUMPING OFF POINT.


3. (C) CONSUL HANDED OVER THE CUBANS PASSPORTS TO
BAJULAIYE ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
EMBASSY SOUGHT GUIDANCE FROM DEPARTMENT (REFTEL B) AS TO
THE ADVISABILITY OF HANDING OVER THE CUBANS PASSPORTS TO
UNHCR TO FACILITATE THEIR TRAVEL TO A THIRD COUNTRY FOR
RESETTLEMENT. DEPARTMENT (PRM'S CRAIG WHITE) CONCURRED
THAT EMBASSY SHOULD HAND OVER THE CUBANS' PASSPORTS TO
UNHCR, AS THAT ORGANIZATION WAS OFFICIALLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE CUBANS (REF A).

MCDONALD

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