Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE3448
2000-06-23 09:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
POLICE CLOSE DOWN MASIRE'S KINSHASA OFFICE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 230928Z Jun 00 CONFIDENTIAL PTO2486 PAGE 01 HARARE 03448 230924Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 DODE-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /007W ------------------662C1A 230925Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6387 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RWANDA COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY ALGIERS AMEMBASSY LAGOS
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003448
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/10
TAGS: PGOV CG ZI
SUBJECT: POLICE CLOSE DOWN MASIRE'S KINSHASA OFFICE
REF: STATE 117859
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD REASONS 1.5 B/D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003448
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/10
TAGS: PGOV CG ZI
SUBJECT: POLICE CLOSE DOWN MASIRE'S KINSHASA OFFICE
REF: STATE 117859
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD REASONS 1.5 B/D.
1. (C) ON JUNE 23 DCM DELIVERED A DEMARCHE TO MINISTRY
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDER SECRETARY FOR AFRICA DAVID
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03448 230924Z
HAMADZIRIPI PER REFTEL INSTRUCTION. DCM ALSO LEFT A
NON-PAPER CONTAINING POINTS IN PARAS 1 AND 3 FOR HIS
CONSIDERATION.
2. (C) HAMADZIRIPI ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, "THIS IS A VERY
DIFFICULT SITUATION." HE NOTED THAT ZIMBABWE WAS
CONCERNED THAT CLOSURE OF NATIONAL DIALOGUE FACILITATOR
SIR KETUMILE MASIRE'S OFFICE IN KINSHASA PUTS A DAMPER
ON THE MOMENTUM INDUCED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. THE
ZIMBABWEAN DIPLOMAT STRESSED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT
SUPPORTED THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED
WAS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT, AND
HAD ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF THE CONGO TO WORK WITH MASIRE TO ACHIEVE A POLITICAL
SOLUTION. IN ZIMBABWE'S ANALYSIS, THE PROBLEM STEMS
FROM THE FACT THAT THE ROLE OF THE FACILITATOR WAS FROM
THE BEGINNING NEVER MADE VERY CLEAR. IN JANUARY THE
POLITICAL COMMITTEE ATTEMPTED TO CLARIFY IT, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY NOT SUCCESSFULLY. THE CONGOLESE, WHO HE
SAID RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A FACILITATOR, NEVERTHELESS
REQUIRED THAT INDIVIDUAL TO RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY AND
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE KABILA GOVERNMENT.
3. (C) FOR REASONS THAT THE ZIMBABWEANS DID NOT FULLY
UNDERSTAND, KINSHASA HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN MASIRE THE
PERSON, AS FACILITATOR. INDEED, THE CONGOLESE FOREIGN
MINISTER HAD CALLED HIM THE "COMPLICATOR" AT A RECENT
POLITICAL COMMITTEE MEETING IN LUSAKA. THE ZIMBABWEANS
QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO RESTORE
KABILA'S TRUST IN MASIRE; HAMADZIRIPI THOUGHT NOT, AND
IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE CONGOLESE HEAD OF STATE WOULD
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03448 230924Z
CONTINUE TO CHECK HIS EVERY MOVE. THE ZIMBABWEAN
DIPLOMAT SEEMED AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT THE NEXT STEPS
MIGHT BE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM, AND DOUBTED HIS
GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO PERSUADE KABILA TO REVERSE
HIS DECISION AND COOPERATE WITH MASIRE. "WE FIND
OURSELVES IN A CRISIS," HE CONCLUDED, "BUT ZIMBABWE WILL
DO WHAT IT CAN SO THE PROCESS IS CARRIED FORWARD".
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/10
TAGS: PGOV CG ZI
SUBJECT: POLICE CLOSE DOWN MASIRE'S KINSHASA OFFICE
REF: STATE 117859
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD REASONS 1.5 B/D.
1. (C) ON JUNE 23 DCM DELIVERED A DEMARCHE TO MINISTRY
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDER SECRETARY FOR AFRICA DAVID
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03448 230924Z
HAMADZIRIPI PER REFTEL INSTRUCTION. DCM ALSO LEFT A
NON-PAPER CONTAINING POINTS IN PARAS 1 AND 3 FOR HIS
CONSIDERATION.
2. (C) HAMADZIRIPI ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, "THIS IS A VERY
DIFFICULT SITUATION." HE NOTED THAT ZIMBABWE WAS
CONCERNED THAT CLOSURE OF NATIONAL DIALOGUE FACILITATOR
SIR KETUMILE MASIRE'S OFFICE IN KINSHASA PUTS A DAMPER
ON THE MOMENTUM INDUCED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. THE
ZIMBABWEAN DIPLOMAT STRESSED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT
SUPPORTED THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED
WAS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT, AND
HAD ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF THE CONGO TO WORK WITH MASIRE TO ACHIEVE A POLITICAL
SOLUTION. IN ZIMBABWE'S ANALYSIS, THE PROBLEM STEMS
FROM THE FACT THAT THE ROLE OF THE FACILITATOR WAS FROM
THE BEGINNING NEVER MADE VERY CLEAR. IN JANUARY THE
POLITICAL COMMITTEE ATTEMPTED TO CLARIFY IT, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY NOT SUCCESSFULLY. THE CONGOLESE, WHO HE
SAID RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A FACILITATOR, NEVERTHELESS
REQUIRED THAT INDIVIDUAL TO RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY AND
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE KABILA GOVERNMENT.
3. (C) FOR REASONS THAT THE ZIMBABWEANS DID NOT FULLY
UNDERSTAND, KINSHASA HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN MASIRE THE
PERSON, AS FACILITATOR. INDEED, THE CONGOLESE FOREIGN
MINISTER HAD CALLED HIM THE "COMPLICATOR" AT A RECENT
POLITICAL COMMITTEE MEETING IN LUSAKA. THE ZIMBABWEANS
QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO RESTORE
KABILA'S TRUST IN MASIRE; HAMADZIRIPI THOUGHT NOT, AND
IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE CONGOLESE HEAD OF STATE WOULD
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03448 230924Z
CONTINUE TO CHECK HIS EVERY MOVE. THE ZIMBABWEAN
DIPLOMAT SEEMED AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT THE NEXT STEPS
MIGHT BE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM, AND DOUBTED HIS
GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO PERSUADE KABILA TO REVERSE
HIS DECISION AND COOPERATE WITH MASIRE. "WE FIND
OURSELVES IN A CRISIS," HE CONCLUDED, "BUT ZIMBABWE WILL
DO WHAT IT CAN SO THE PROCESS IS CARRIED FORWARD".
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>