Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE3963
2000-07-19 12:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 191250Z Jul 00 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6412 PAGE 01 HARARE 03963 01 OF 04 191357Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 CCO-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 PMB-00 SAS-00 /002W ------------------7001E8 191357Z /45 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6650 INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RWANDA COLLECTIVE USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003963
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
REF: (A) STATE 135319, (B) PRETORIA 5558
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 01 OF 04 191357Z
CLASSIFIED BY SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003963
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
REF: (A) STATE 135319, (B) PRETORIA 5558
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 01 OF 04 191357Z
CLASSIFIED BY SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE HAD A
PRODUCTIVE MEETING ON BURUNDI WITH A RECEPTIVE NELSON
MANDELA ON JULY 17 REGARDING THE STATE OF PLAY OF THE
ARUSHA AGREEMENT AND PLANS FOR THE JULY 19-20 MEETING
OF REGIONAL HEADS OF STATE. WOLPE MADE INROADS ON
TOPICS SUCH AS THE DANGER OF SIGNING AN AGREEMENT
PREMATURELY, THE DIFFICULT AND UNRESOLVED NATURE OF
TRANSITIONAL LEADERSHIP, THE DESIRABILITY OF A
SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES PRIOR TO A FORMAL SIGNING
CEREMONY, AND THE NUANCES OF THE POLITICAL PRISONER ISSUE.
MANDELA WAS PLEASED TO HEAR THAT ADDITIONAL U.S. FUNDING
FOR THE ARUSHA PROCESS IS ON ITS WAY, AND LOOKS FORWARD
TO A PHONE CALL WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AS THE PRESS OF
BUSINESS AT CAMP DAVID PERMITS. IN THAT CONVERSATION,
MANDELA IS LIKELY TO RAISE HIS CONCERN THAT "ANOTHER
COUNTRY" BESIDES SOUTH AFRICA PROVIDE SECURITY TO ENSURE
THE SAFETY OF THE LEADERS OF THE NINETEEN PARTIES
INVOLVED IN THE ARUSHA NEGOTIATIONS ON THEIR EVENTUAL
RETURN TO BURUNDI. WOLPE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY DEPUTY SPECIAL
ENVOY YELLIN, SPECIAL ADVISOR PRENDERGAST, AND A/CG LEONARD
(NOTETAKER.) A FOLLOW-ON MEETING WITH ARUSHA FACILITATION
TEAM MEMBER NICHOLAS HAYSOM FURTHER CLARIFIED THE STATUS
OF A NEW DRAFT ARUSHA AGREEMENT AND PLANS FOR THE JULY
19/20 ARUSHA MEETING. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) S/E WOLPE OPENED THE MEETING BY RELAYING A
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON IN RESPONSE TO
MANDELA'S CONCERN ABOUT DELAYS IN DONOR FUNDING FOR
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03963 01 OF 04 191357Z
THE ARUSHA PROCESS. HE ASSURED MANDELA THAT $500,000
HAD ALREADY ARRIVED IN TANZANIA, AND A FURTHER
$500,000 HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AND WOULD BE CONTRIBUTED
PENDING CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION. FURTHER, WOLPE
TOLD MANDELA THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON LOOKS FORWARD TO
SPEAKING WITH HIM REGARDING BOTH THE MIDDLE EAST AND
BURUNDI, BUT THAT THE PRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS AT CAMP
DAVID HAD DELAYED THEIR CONVERSATION. MANDELA REPLIED
THAT HE REALIZED THE U.S. PRESIDENT IS VERY BUSY AT
CAMP DAVID, AND HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH HIM
AT CLINTON'S CONVENIENCE.
3. (C) WOLPE THEN SUMMARIZED U.S. CONCERNS OVER THE
BURUNDI PEACE PROCESS, BORN OF U.S. EXPERIENCES IN
SIERRA LEONE AND THE ARUSHA PROCESS FOR RWANDA, AND
SOLICITED MANDELA'S VIEWS. IN BOTH THESE CASES,
AGREEMENTS TURNED OUT TO BE UNSUSTAINABLE. THESE TWO
CASES ALSO RAISED DIFFICULT ISSUES SIMILAR TO THOSE
PRESENT IN BURUNDI: ISSUES OF JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY,
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF KEY PLAYERS OWNING THE FINAL
NEGOTIATED OUTCOME. WOLPE CAUTIONED THAT THE U.S.
IS HEARING NERVOUSNESS FROM ALL SIDES IN BURUNDI
THAT KEY QUESTIONS (COMPOSITION OF THE MILITARY,
FOR EXAMPLE) HAVE NOT YET BEEN BROUGHT TO CLOSURE.
4. (C) AT THE SAME TIME, WOLPE UNDERSCORED TO MANDELA
THE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAD
MADE AS A FACILITATOR FOR BURUNDI. HAVING BEEN
ENGAGED IN THE BURUNDI PROCESS SINCE 1996, WOLPE
WITNESSED TWO TO THREE WASTED YEARS DUE TO POOR
FACILITATION AND MISTRUST OF TANZANIA'S ROLE. WOLPE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03963 01 OF 04 191357Z
REMINDED MANDELA THAT NOT SO MANY YEARS AGO
BURUNDIANS HAD SO DEMONIZED ONE ANOTHER AS MURDERS AND
GENOCIDAIRES THAT IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE THE PARTIES NOW
AT ARUSHA COULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE SAME ROOM. WOLPE
CONTINUED THAT CONVERSATION ON THE CORE ISSUES HAD ONLY
BEGUN WITH MANDELA'S PARTICIPATION, WHICH GAVE BURUNDIANS
THE FIRST REAL CONFIDENCE THAT AGREEMENT AT ARUSHA IS
POSSIBLE. WOLPE FOUND IT NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE
THAT THE PARTIES ARE NOT ONLY NOW TALKING TOGETHER, BUT
ADDRESSING THE MOST SERIOUS QUESTIONS SUCH AS JUSTICE,
THE COMPOSITION OF THE ARMY, AND TRANSITIONAL LEADERSHIP.
CURRENTLY, BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS REALIZE
THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT YET RESOLVED, BUT THAT A
SOLUTION IS POSSIBLE. THUS, WHILE MANDELA'S EFFORTS HAVE
BROUGHT HUGE ADVANCES, TOO PRECIPITOUS A MOVE TOWARD SIGNING
AN AGREEMENT WOULD RISK SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS
OF VICTORY. WOLPE CONCLUDED THAT THE PARTIES, AND IN
PARTICULAR THE REBELS, MUST BE GIVEN TIME TO DIGEST
AND GAIN OWNERSHIP OF SUCH PROPOSALS AS 50/50
TUTSI/HUTU PARTICIPATION IN THE MILITARY.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6417
PAGE 01 HARARE 03963 02 OF 04 191358Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 CCO-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00
SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 PMB-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 7001FC 191358Z /45
O 191250Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6651
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RWANDA COLLECTIVE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003963
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
5. (C) MANDELA RESPONDED WITH AN OUTLINE OF HIS GAME
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 02 OF 04 191358Z
PLAN FOR THE AGREEMENT. THE FACILITATION TEAM
CIRCULATED DRAFT COMPROMISE PROPOSALS FOR THE FIVE
COMMITTEES, WHICH WERE CIRCULATED AMONG THE 19
PARTIES. DURING THE THREE-WEEK-PLUS EXAMINATION
PERIOD, MANDELA MET, CONFIDENTIALLY AND INDIVIDUALLY,
AS WELL AS IN PLENARY, WITH ALL NINETEEN OF THE
PARTIES. HE SECURED THE AGREEMENT OF EACH THAT THE
FINAL PROPOSAL THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED, BASED ON THE
VARIOUS PARTIES' COMMENTS ON THE DRAFTS, WOULD BE
ACCEPTED WITHOUT FURTHER NEGOTIATION OR RECLAMA. THIS
WAS ESSENTIAL, IN MANDELA'S VIEW, BECAUSE WITH SO
LITTLE PROGRESS SINCE 1995, ANY NEW COMMENT PERIOD
WOULD REOPEN A PANDORA'S BOX OF ISSUES THAT WOULD
BLOCK ANY SUCCESSFUL AGREEMENT.
6. (C) UNFORTUNATELY, MANDELA SAID, THE FACILITATION
TEAM HAD NOT YET COMPLETED ITS WORK TURNING ALL THE
DRAFT PROPOSALS WITH COMMENTS INTO FINAL FORM, WITH
THE QUESTIONS OF A CEASE-FIRE AND THE HEAD OF THE
PROVISIONAL INTERIM GOVERNMENT PARTICULARLY
OUTSTANDING. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD NEVERTHELESS NOT
CANCEL THE HEADS OF STATE MEETING JULY 19-20, BUT
WOULD INSTEAD BRIEF THE REGIONAL LEADERS ON THE
PARTIES' AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE, AND INFORM THEM THAT
THE ACTUAL SIGNING WOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL AUGUST 28.
(NOTE: MANDELA EXPECTS ATTENDANCE AT THE JULY MEETING
BY THE HEADS OF STATE OF MALI, GHANA, SWAZILAND, BOTSWANA,
MALAWI, LESOTHO, AND "OF COURSE, GADAFFI," OF LIBYA.)
MANDELA ADDED THAT HE HAD COUNSELED COMMITTEE NUMBER
THREE (THE COMMITTEE ON THE CEASE-FIRE AND SECURITY)
NOT TO INSIST ON A FORMAL REBEL CEASE-FIRE (AS DISTINCT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03963 02 OF 04 191358Z
FROM A CONFIDENCE-BUILDING SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES)
UNTIL AN ARUSHA AGREEMENT HAD BEEN CONCLUDED. MANDELA
ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE STUMBLING BLOCK ON PROVISIONAL
LEADERSHIP IS THAT EVERY SINGLE PARTY IS VYING TO LEAD
THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT.
7. (C) MANDELA FURTHER SUMMARIZED THE PARTIES' VIEWS
BY SAYING THAT BUYOYA HAD ALREADY AGREED TO THE 50/50
ARMY COMPOSITION CONCEPT, AND TO DISMANTLE REGROUPMENT
CAMPS BY JULY 31. HE CRITICIZED THE BURUNDIAN
PRESIDENT'S ADAMANT VIEW OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AS A
"SENSITIVE ISSUE." MANDELA RECOUNTED HIS HORROR ON
TOURING THAT COUNTRY'S PRISONS ON JUNE 12, DISCOVERING
INMATES LIVING IN FILTH FOR CRIMES SUCH AS BOMBING A
HOUSE. AS WAS THE CASE IN SOUTH AFRICA, MANDELA
CONTINUED, THERE CAN BE NO SETTLEMENT IN BURUNDI AS
LONG AS POLITICAL PRISONERS REMAIN IN JAIL; THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, ENFORCING INTERNATIONALLY
ACCEPTED DEFINITIONS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, SHOULD
PRESSURE BUYOYA TO RELEASE THEM.
8. (C) REACTING TO MANDELA'S COMMENTS, WOLPE
ADDRESSED THREE TOPICS: THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER
COMMENT ON THE FINAL DRAFT AGREEMENT; THE TIMING OF A
CEASE-FIRE; AND THE PROFILE OF PRISONERS IN BURUNDI.
RETURNING TO HIS PREVIOUS PRAISE OF MANDELA'S
INVALUABLE ROLE AS A THIRD PARTY TO FORWARD A
COMPROMISE PROPOSAL, AND U.S. CONCERNS FOR THE
UNSUSTAINABILITY OF INCOMPLETE AGREEMENTS, WOLPE
QUERIED WHETHER THE JULY 19-20 MEETING COULD NOT BE
USED TO RESOLVE REMAINING OUTSTANDING ISSUES. MANDELA
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03963 02 OF 04 191358Z
VEHEMENTLY DISAGREED, REITERATING THAT THE PARTIES HAD
ALREADY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT, AND ANY
REOPENING WOULD TORPEDO AN AGREEMENT. THE JULY
MEETING WOULD PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE
PARTIES THE FINAL DRAFT, NOT TO START OVER. THEY WOULD
BE GIVEN TIME TO DIGEST THE FINAL DOCUMENT, BUT WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO AMEND IT.
9. (C) ON THE SUBJECT OF THE CEASE-FIRE, MANDELA HAD
IN HIS PRESENTATION DRAWN COMPARISONS FROM SOUTH
AFRICA'S EXPERIENCE. MANDELA HAD ONCE HESITATED TO
AGREE TO SUSPEND THE ANC'S ARMED STRUGGLE, WHICH HE
SAW AS HIS MOVEMENT'S MAJOR TRUMP CARD IN THE
NEGOTIATIONS. EVENTUALLY, HOWEVER, HE ACCEPTED THE
ARGUMENT THAT DE KLERK NEEDED TO DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS
TO HIS SUPPORTERS, AND SO MANDELA AGREED TO A
"SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES" -- NOT A FORMAL CEASE-FIRE --
IN ORDER TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SERIOUS NEGOTIATION.
10. (C) WOLPE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE REBELS NEEDED TO
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6422
PAGE 01 HARARE 03963 03 OF 04 191359Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 CCO-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00
SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 PMB-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 700219 191359Z /45
O 191250Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6652
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RWANDA COLLECTIVE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003963
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
HAVE CONCESSIONS IN HAND BEFORE THEY COULD BE EXPECTED TO
LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. AT THE SAME TIME, WOLPE CAUTIONED,
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 03 OF 04 191359Z
INSISTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT SIGN AN AGREEMENT WHILE THE
REBELS CONTINUED TO PROSECUTE THE WAR COULD PUT THE LIVES
OF THOSE SEEN AS GIVING UP TOO MUCH IN THE FACE OF CONTINUING
VIOLENCE. WOLPE STRESSED THE NEED FOR SOME SPACE BETWEEN THE
AGREEMENT AND ITS FORMAL SIGNING TO GIVE THE REBELS A CHANCE
TO SHOW GOOD FAITH. MANDELA UNDERSTOOD THE CONCERN, BUT HE
ADVOCATED AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY: TO COUNSEL THE REBELS TO
MAKE A STATEMENT NOW THAT THEY WILL IMPLEMENT A CEASE FIRE
IMMEDIATELY ON SIGNING AN AGREEMENT. IN THE ENSUING
CONVERSATION MANDELA APPEARED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS
NOT CLEAR ALL FIGHTERS HAVE YET COME FORWARD TO JOIN THE
ARUSHA PROCESS, OR THAT ALL REBEL LEADERS (JEAN BOSCO,
FOR EXAMPLE) EXERT THE DEGREE OF CONTROL THEY CLAIM. WOLPE
COMMENTED THAT FORCING A SIGNATURE IF SUCH ISSUES WERE NOT
CLEARLY RESOLVED COULD PUT MANY PEOPLE AT RISK, PARTICULARLY
SINCE THE CONGO WAR PROVIDES A READY ESCAPE HATCH FOR
BURUNDIAN REBELS. MANDELA AGREED THAT THIS WAS TRUE.
11. (C) WOLPE THEN BROACHED THE SUBJECT OF
POLITICAL PRISONERS, DESCRIBING THE ISSUE AS VERY
COMPLICATED. WHILE IT WAS CLEAR, WOLPE SAID, THAT
BURUNDIAN PRISONERS LIVED IN INTOLERABLE CONDITIONS AND
THAT MOST HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED DUE PROCESS, THE
DEFINITIONAL ISSUE WAS COMPLICATED. RECALLING THE 1993
DEATHS OF SOME 150,000 BURUNDIANS IN HUTU MASSACRES OF
TUTSI AND TUTSI ARMY REPRISALS AGAINST HUTU, HE NOTED
THAT THE UNITED NATIONS CALLED MANY OF THESE KILLINGS
"ACTS OF GENOCIDE." WHILE THE UN MAY HAVE ERRED IN
APPLYING THIS LABEL, THIS TERMINOLOGY IS NOW VERY MUCH
A PART OF THE BURUNDIAN POLITICAL CULTURE AND DEBATE. IN
POINT OF FACT, WOLPE SAID, MANY BURUNDIAN PRISONERS ARE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03963 03 OF 04 191359Z
NOT INCARCERATED MERELY FOR POLITICALLY-INSPIRED ACTS
OF VIOLENCE, BUT FOR ETHNICALLY INSPIRED KILLINGS. THE
QUESTION OF HOW TO GIVE BOTH HUTUS AND TUTSIS COMFORT
AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THESE ACTS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
12. (C) IN OTHER TOPICS, MANDELA DEMONSTRATED HIS
APPRECIATION OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE POST-ACCORD ERA.
HE SAID HE HAD SECURED FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC'S
AGREEMENT TO HOST AN INTERNATIONAL DONORS' CONFERENCE
TO HELP REORIENT BURUNDI'S AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY TO
JOB-CREATING INDUSTRY. MANDELA WILL ALSO ASK COUNTRIES--
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES--TO ACCEPT BURUNDIAN
STUDENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, TO BEGIN REDRESSING THE
COUNTRY'S SKILLS DEFICIT. WOLPE AGREED THAT THESE
SUGGESTIONS ARE USEFUL IN FOCUSSING THE PARTIES'
ATTENTION TO THE NEED AND VALUE OF SECURING A PEACE,
AND IN GIVING BURUNDIANS NEW HOPE.
13. (C) MANDELA ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE PROCESS BY
WHICH THE BURUNDIAN PEOPLE, THE ULTIMATE ARBITERS OF
ANY ACCORD, WOULD ACCEPT THE RESULTS NEGOTIATED BY THE
VARIOUS PARTIES. CLEARLY, PARTY REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE REBELS MUST EVENTUALLY RETURN TO BURUNDI TO DEFEND
THE OUTCOME OF THE AGREEMENT. THIS COULD BE A
DANGEROUS PROCESS FOR THE LEADERS CONCERNED, AND
MANDELA HAD ASKED UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFFI ANNAN FOR
UNITED NATIONS BODYGUARDS FOR EACH PARTY. RECOGNIZING
THE UN WOULD INEVITABLY BE SLOW TO RESPOND, MANDELA
SAID HE INTENDED TO ASK SOME OTHER COUNTRY TO PROVIDE
THAT SERVICE, SINCE SENDING SOUTH AFRICANS WOULD
APPEAR TOO FORWARD ON MANDELA'S PART. MANDELA FELT HE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03963 03 OF 04 191359Z
MUST DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON.
14. (C) COMMENT: WHILE WOLPE'S MEETING ELICITED NO
CLEAR PLEDGE TO ABANDON A SET SIGNING DATE, THE
DISCUSSION DID BRING ABOUT SEVERAL IMPORTANT OPENINGS.
MANDELA CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD OUR FOCUS ON THE DANGER OF
PREMATURE SIGNATURE WITH REMAINING UNRESOLVED ISSUES,
NAMELY THAT SUCH AN ACTION COULD COST LIVES. AS FOR
MANDELA'S PROTESTATIONS ABOUT THE FINALITY OF THE
REVISED AGREEMENT, WORKING COMMITTEE CHAIR (AND
MANDELA ADVISOR) NICHOLAS HAYSOM LATER CLARIFIED
THAT HE IS INTERACTING WITH VARIOUS PARTIES TO SHARE
THE EARLY DRAFT OF THE FINAL PROPOSAL, AND THAT THERE
REMAINS "SPACE FOR FURTHER INTERACTION." AT THE END
OF THE CONVERSATION, MANDELA ACTUALLY VERBALIZED THE
NEED FOR A "CEASE FIRE BEFORE SIGNING," BUT U.S.
PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTOOD, AND NICHOLAS HAYSOM'S
SUBSEQUENT COMMENTS SUPPORTED, THAT MANDELA PROBABLY
ACTUALLY REFERRED TO AN ADVANCE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN
AGREED CEASE-FIRE THAT WOULD TRIGGER IMMEDIATELY ON
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6429
PAGE 01 HARARE 03963 04 OF 04 191359Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 CCO-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00
SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 PMB-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 700235 191359Z /45
O 191250Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6653
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RWANDA COLLECTIVE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003963
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
SIGNING. (NOTE: HE MAY ALSO HAVE MEANT A SUSPENSION OF
HOSTILITIES BEFORE SIGNATURE, SOMETHING HE IS SEEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 04 OF 04 191359Z
FROM THE TWO REBEL GROUPS. END NOTE.) MANDELA IS ALSO
CLEARLY AWARE THAT THE SELECTION OF TRANSITIONAL
LEADERSHIP IS BOTH DIFFICULT AND UNRESOLVED. HAYSOM SAID
MANDELA'S POSITION IS THAT THE SIGNING MUST NOT BE HELD
UP WHILE A LEADER IS SELECTED, PARTICULARLY SINCE MANDELA
FEELS IT IS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO CHOOSE AN INTERIM
LEADER; HOWEVER, SEVERAL PARTIES DO NOT WANT TO SIGN
WITHOUT RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. HAYSOM FELT ONE ACCEPTABLE
COMPROMISE WOULD BE FOR CURRENT PRESIDENT BUYOYA TO
GOVERN THE SIX MONTH IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD IN A DEPARTING
EXERCISE OF GOVERNMENT CIVILIANIZATION BEFORE THE
TRANSITION ACTUALLY BEGINS. FINALLY, MANDELA APPARENTLY
TOOK WOLPE'S DISCUSSION OF THE NEED TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN DIFFERING CATEGORIES OF BURUNDIAN PRISONERS
ON BOARD.
15. (U) MANDELA AND WOLPE PARTED BY OBSERVING THAT
THE PROCESS IS GOING FORWARD, AND THAT THEY WOULD WORK
TOGETHER IN ARUSHA LATER THIS WEEK TO FURTHER THAT
END. IRVING
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
REF: (A) STATE 135319, (B) PRETORIA 5558
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 01 OF 04 191357Z
CLASSIFIED BY SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE HAD A
PRODUCTIVE MEETING ON BURUNDI WITH A RECEPTIVE NELSON
MANDELA ON JULY 17 REGARDING THE STATE OF PLAY OF THE
ARUSHA AGREEMENT AND PLANS FOR THE JULY 19-20 MEETING
OF REGIONAL HEADS OF STATE. WOLPE MADE INROADS ON
TOPICS SUCH AS THE DANGER OF SIGNING AN AGREEMENT
PREMATURELY, THE DIFFICULT AND UNRESOLVED NATURE OF
TRANSITIONAL LEADERSHIP, THE DESIRABILITY OF A
SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES PRIOR TO A FORMAL SIGNING
CEREMONY, AND THE NUANCES OF THE POLITICAL PRISONER ISSUE.
MANDELA WAS PLEASED TO HEAR THAT ADDITIONAL U.S. FUNDING
FOR THE ARUSHA PROCESS IS ON ITS WAY, AND LOOKS FORWARD
TO A PHONE CALL WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AS THE PRESS OF
BUSINESS AT CAMP DAVID PERMITS. IN THAT CONVERSATION,
MANDELA IS LIKELY TO RAISE HIS CONCERN THAT "ANOTHER
COUNTRY" BESIDES SOUTH AFRICA PROVIDE SECURITY TO ENSURE
THE SAFETY OF THE LEADERS OF THE NINETEEN PARTIES
INVOLVED IN THE ARUSHA NEGOTIATIONS ON THEIR EVENTUAL
RETURN TO BURUNDI. WOLPE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY DEPUTY SPECIAL
ENVOY YELLIN, SPECIAL ADVISOR PRENDERGAST, AND A/CG LEONARD
(NOTETAKER.) A FOLLOW-ON MEETING WITH ARUSHA FACILITATION
TEAM MEMBER NICHOLAS HAYSOM FURTHER CLARIFIED THE STATUS
OF A NEW DRAFT ARUSHA AGREEMENT AND PLANS FOR THE JULY
19/20 ARUSHA MEETING. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) S/E WOLPE OPENED THE MEETING BY RELAYING A
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON IN RESPONSE TO
MANDELA'S CONCERN ABOUT DELAYS IN DONOR FUNDING FOR
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03963 01 OF 04 191357Z
THE ARUSHA PROCESS. HE ASSURED MANDELA THAT $500,000
HAD ALREADY ARRIVED IN TANZANIA, AND A FURTHER
$500,000 HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AND WOULD BE CONTRIBUTED
PENDING CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION. FURTHER, WOLPE
TOLD MANDELA THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON LOOKS FORWARD TO
SPEAKING WITH HIM REGARDING BOTH THE MIDDLE EAST AND
BURUNDI, BUT THAT THE PRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS AT CAMP
DAVID HAD DELAYED THEIR CONVERSATION. MANDELA REPLIED
THAT HE REALIZED THE U.S. PRESIDENT IS VERY BUSY AT
CAMP DAVID, AND HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH HIM
AT CLINTON'S CONVENIENCE.
3. (C) WOLPE THEN SUMMARIZED U.S. CONCERNS OVER THE
BURUNDI PEACE PROCESS, BORN OF U.S. EXPERIENCES IN
SIERRA LEONE AND THE ARUSHA PROCESS FOR RWANDA, AND
SOLICITED MANDELA'S VIEWS. IN BOTH THESE CASES,
AGREEMENTS TURNED OUT TO BE UNSUSTAINABLE. THESE TWO
CASES ALSO RAISED DIFFICULT ISSUES SIMILAR TO THOSE
PRESENT IN BURUNDI: ISSUES OF JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY,
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF KEY PLAYERS OWNING THE FINAL
NEGOTIATED OUTCOME. WOLPE CAUTIONED THAT THE U.S.
IS HEARING NERVOUSNESS FROM ALL SIDES IN BURUNDI
THAT KEY QUESTIONS (COMPOSITION OF THE MILITARY,
FOR EXAMPLE) HAVE NOT YET BEEN BROUGHT TO CLOSURE.
4. (C) AT THE SAME TIME, WOLPE UNDERSCORED TO MANDELA
THE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAD
MADE AS A FACILITATOR FOR BURUNDI. HAVING BEEN
ENGAGED IN THE BURUNDI PROCESS SINCE 1996, WOLPE
WITNESSED TWO TO THREE WASTED YEARS DUE TO POOR
FACILITATION AND MISTRUST OF TANZANIA'S ROLE. WOLPE
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REMINDED MANDELA THAT NOT SO MANY YEARS AGO
BURUNDIANS HAD SO DEMONIZED ONE ANOTHER AS MURDERS AND
GENOCIDAIRES THAT IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE THE PARTIES NOW
AT ARUSHA COULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE SAME ROOM. WOLPE
CONTINUED THAT CONVERSATION ON THE CORE ISSUES HAD ONLY
BEGUN WITH MANDELA'S PARTICIPATION, WHICH GAVE BURUNDIANS
THE FIRST REAL CONFIDENCE THAT AGREEMENT AT ARUSHA IS
POSSIBLE. WOLPE FOUND IT NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE
THAT THE PARTIES ARE NOT ONLY NOW TALKING TOGETHER, BUT
ADDRESSING THE MOST SERIOUS QUESTIONS SUCH AS JUSTICE,
THE COMPOSITION OF THE ARMY, AND TRANSITIONAL LEADERSHIP.
CURRENTLY, BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS REALIZE
THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT YET RESOLVED, BUT THAT A
SOLUTION IS POSSIBLE. THUS, WHILE MANDELA'S EFFORTS HAVE
BROUGHT HUGE ADVANCES, TOO PRECIPITOUS A MOVE TOWARD SIGNING
AN AGREEMENT WOULD RISK SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS
OF VICTORY. WOLPE CONCLUDED THAT THE PARTIES, AND IN
PARTICULAR THE REBELS, MUST BE GIVEN TIME TO DIGEST
AND GAIN OWNERSHIP OF SUCH PROPOSALS AS 50/50
TUTSI/HUTU PARTICIPATION IN THE MILITARY.
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ACTION AF-00
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-------------- 7001FC 191358Z /45
O 191250Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6651
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RWANDA COLLECTIVE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003963
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
5. (C) MANDELA RESPONDED WITH AN OUTLINE OF HIS GAME
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 02 OF 04 191358Z
PLAN FOR THE AGREEMENT. THE FACILITATION TEAM
CIRCULATED DRAFT COMPROMISE PROPOSALS FOR THE FIVE
COMMITTEES, WHICH WERE CIRCULATED AMONG THE 19
PARTIES. DURING THE THREE-WEEK-PLUS EXAMINATION
PERIOD, MANDELA MET, CONFIDENTIALLY AND INDIVIDUALLY,
AS WELL AS IN PLENARY, WITH ALL NINETEEN OF THE
PARTIES. HE SECURED THE AGREEMENT OF EACH THAT THE
FINAL PROPOSAL THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED, BASED ON THE
VARIOUS PARTIES' COMMENTS ON THE DRAFTS, WOULD BE
ACCEPTED WITHOUT FURTHER NEGOTIATION OR RECLAMA. THIS
WAS ESSENTIAL, IN MANDELA'S VIEW, BECAUSE WITH SO
LITTLE PROGRESS SINCE 1995, ANY NEW COMMENT PERIOD
WOULD REOPEN A PANDORA'S BOX OF ISSUES THAT WOULD
BLOCK ANY SUCCESSFUL AGREEMENT.
6. (C) UNFORTUNATELY, MANDELA SAID, THE FACILITATION
TEAM HAD NOT YET COMPLETED ITS WORK TURNING ALL THE
DRAFT PROPOSALS WITH COMMENTS INTO FINAL FORM, WITH
THE QUESTIONS OF A CEASE-FIRE AND THE HEAD OF THE
PROVISIONAL INTERIM GOVERNMENT PARTICULARLY
OUTSTANDING. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD NEVERTHELESS NOT
CANCEL THE HEADS OF STATE MEETING JULY 19-20, BUT
WOULD INSTEAD BRIEF THE REGIONAL LEADERS ON THE
PARTIES' AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE, AND INFORM THEM THAT
THE ACTUAL SIGNING WOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL AUGUST 28.
(NOTE: MANDELA EXPECTS ATTENDANCE AT THE JULY MEETING
BY THE HEADS OF STATE OF MALI, GHANA, SWAZILAND, BOTSWANA,
MALAWI, LESOTHO, AND "OF COURSE, GADAFFI," OF LIBYA.)
MANDELA ADDED THAT HE HAD COUNSELED COMMITTEE NUMBER
THREE (THE COMMITTEE ON THE CEASE-FIRE AND SECURITY)
NOT TO INSIST ON A FORMAL REBEL CEASE-FIRE (AS DISTINCT
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PAGE 03 HARARE 03963 02 OF 04 191358Z
FROM A CONFIDENCE-BUILDING SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES)
UNTIL AN ARUSHA AGREEMENT HAD BEEN CONCLUDED. MANDELA
ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE STUMBLING BLOCK ON PROVISIONAL
LEADERSHIP IS THAT EVERY SINGLE PARTY IS VYING TO LEAD
THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT.
7. (C) MANDELA FURTHER SUMMARIZED THE PARTIES' VIEWS
BY SAYING THAT BUYOYA HAD ALREADY AGREED TO THE 50/50
ARMY COMPOSITION CONCEPT, AND TO DISMANTLE REGROUPMENT
CAMPS BY JULY 31. HE CRITICIZED THE BURUNDIAN
PRESIDENT'S ADAMANT VIEW OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AS A
"SENSITIVE ISSUE." MANDELA RECOUNTED HIS HORROR ON
TOURING THAT COUNTRY'S PRISONS ON JUNE 12, DISCOVERING
INMATES LIVING IN FILTH FOR CRIMES SUCH AS BOMBING A
HOUSE. AS WAS THE CASE IN SOUTH AFRICA, MANDELA
CONTINUED, THERE CAN BE NO SETTLEMENT IN BURUNDI AS
LONG AS POLITICAL PRISONERS REMAIN IN JAIL; THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, ENFORCING INTERNATIONALLY
ACCEPTED DEFINITIONS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, SHOULD
PRESSURE BUYOYA TO RELEASE THEM.
8. (C) REACTING TO MANDELA'S COMMENTS, WOLPE
ADDRESSED THREE TOPICS: THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER
COMMENT ON THE FINAL DRAFT AGREEMENT; THE TIMING OF A
CEASE-FIRE; AND THE PROFILE OF PRISONERS IN BURUNDI.
RETURNING TO HIS PREVIOUS PRAISE OF MANDELA'S
INVALUABLE ROLE AS A THIRD PARTY TO FORWARD A
COMPROMISE PROPOSAL, AND U.S. CONCERNS FOR THE
UNSUSTAINABILITY OF INCOMPLETE AGREEMENTS, WOLPE
QUERIED WHETHER THE JULY 19-20 MEETING COULD NOT BE
USED TO RESOLVE REMAINING OUTSTANDING ISSUES. MANDELA
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03963 02 OF 04 191358Z
VEHEMENTLY DISAGREED, REITERATING THAT THE PARTIES HAD
ALREADY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT, AND ANY
REOPENING WOULD TORPEDO AN AGREEMENT. THE JULY
MEETING WOULD PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE
PARTIES THE FINAL DRAFT, NOT TO START OVER. THEY WOULD
BE GIVEN TIME TO DIGEST THE FINAL DOCUMENT, BUT WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO AMEND IT.
9. (C) ON THE SUBJECT OF THE CEASE-FIRE, MANDELA HAD
IN HIS PRESENTATION DRAWN COMPARISONS FROM SOUTH
AFRICA'S EXPERIENCE. MANDELA HAD ONCE HESITATED TO
AGREE TO SUSPEND THE ANC'S ARMED STRUGGLE, WHICH HE
SAW AS HIS MOVEMENT'S MAJOR TRUMP CARD IN THE
NEGOTIATIONS. EVENTUALLY, HOWEVER, HE ACCEPTED THE
ARGUMENT THAT DE KLERK NEEDED TO DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS
TO HIS SUPPORTERS, AND SO MANDELA AGREED TO A
"SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES" -- NOT A FORMAL CEASE-FIRE --
IN ORDER TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SERIOUS NEGOTIATION.
10. (C) WOLPE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE REBELS NEEDED TO
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ACTION AF-00
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SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 PMB-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 700219 191359Z /45
O 191250Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6652
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RWANDA COLLECTIVE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003963
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
HAVE CONCESSIONS IN HAND BEFORE THEY COULD BE EXPECTED TO
LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. AT THE SAME TIME, WOLPE CAUTIONED,
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 03 OF 04 191359Z
INSISTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT SIGN AN AGREEMENT WHILE THE
REBELS CONTINUED TO PROSECUTE THE WAR COULD PUT THE LIVES
OF THOSE SEEN AS GIVING UP TOO MUCH IN THE FACE OF CONTINUING
VIOLENCE. WOLPE STRESSED THE NEED FOR SOME SPACE BETWEEN THE
AGREEMENT AND ITS FORMAL SIGNING TO GIVE THE REBELS A CHANCE
TO SHOW GOOD FAITH. MANDELA UNDERSTOOD THE CONCERN, BUT HE
ADVOCATED AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY: TO COUNSEL THE REBELS TO
MAKE A STATEMENT NOW THAT THEY WILL IMPLEMENT A CEASE FIRE
IMMEDIATELY ON SIGNING AN AGREEMENT. IN THE ENSUING
CONVERSATION MANDELA APPEARED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS
NOT CLEAR ALL FIGHTERS HAVE YET COME FORWARD TO JOIN THE
ARUSHA PROCESS, OR THAT ALL REBEL LEADERS (JEAN BOSCO,
FOR EXAMPLE) EXERT THE DEGREE OF CONTROL THEY CLAIM. WOLPE
COMMENTED THAT FORCING A SIGNATURE IF SUCH ISSUES WERE NOT
CLEARLY RESOLVED COULD PUT MANY PEOPLE AT RISK, PARTICULARLY
SINCE THE CONGO WAR PROVIDES A READY ESCAPE HATCH FOR
BURUNDIAN REBELS. MANDELA AGREED THAT THIS WAS TRUE.
11. (C) WOLPE THEN BROACHED THE SUBJECT OF
POLITICAL PRISONERS, DESCRIBING THE ISSUE AS VERY
COMPLICATED. WHILE IT WAS CLEAR, WOLPE SAID, THAT
BURUNDIAN PRISONERS LIVED IN INTOLERABLE CONDITIONS AND
THAT MOST HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED DUE PROCESS, THE
DEFINITIONAL ISSUE WAS COMPLICATED. RECALLING THE 1993
DEATHS OF SOME 150,000 BURUNDIANS IN HUTU MASSACRES OF
TUTSI AND TUTSI ARMY REPRISALS AGAINST HUTU, HE NOTED
THAT THE UNITED NATIONS CALLED MANY OF THESE KILLINGS
"ACTS OF GENOCIDE." WHILE THE UN MAY HAVE ERRED IN
APPLYING THIS LABEL, THIS TERMINOLOGY IS NOW VERY MUCH
A PART OF THE BURUNDIAN POLITICAL CULTURE AND DEBATE. IN
POINT OF FACT, WOLPE SAID, MANY BURUNDIAN PRISONERS ARE
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PAGE 03 HARARE 03963 03 OF 04 191359Z
NOT INCARCERATED MERELY FOR POLITICALLY-INSPIRED ACTS
OF VIOLENCE, BUT FOR ETHNICALLY INSPIRED KILLINGS. THE
QUESTION OF HOW TO GIVE BOTH HUTUS AND TUTSIS COMFORT
AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THESE ACTS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
12. (C) IN OTHER TOPICS, MANDELA DEMONSTRATED HIS
APPRECIATION OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE POST-ACCORD ERA.
HE SAID HE HAD SECURED FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC'S
AGREEMENT TO HOST AN INTERNATIONAL DONORS' CONFERENCE
TO HELP REORIENT BURUNDI'S AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY TO
JOB-CREATING INDUSTRY. MANDELA WILL ALSO ASK COUNTRIES--
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES--TO ACCEPT BURUNDIAN
STUDENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, TO BEGIN REDRESSING THE
COUNTRY'S SKILLS DEFICIT. WOLPE AGREED THAT THESE
SUGGESTIONS ARE USEFUL IN FOCUSSING THE PARTIES'
ATTENTION TO THE NEED AND VALUE OF SECURING A PEACE,
AND IN GIVING BURUNDIANS NEW HOPE.
13. (C) MANDELA ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE PROCESS BY
WHICH THE BURUNDIAN PEOPLE, THE ULTIMATE ARBITERS OF
ANY ACCORD, WOULD ACCEPT THE RESULTS NEGOTIATED BY THE
VARIOUS PARTIES. CLEARLY, PARTY REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE REBELS MUST EVENTUALLY RETURN TO BURUNDI TO DEFEND
THE OUTCOME OF THE AGREEMENT. THIS COULD BE A
DANGEROUS PROCESS FOR THE LEADERS CONCERNED, AND
MANDELA HAD ASKED UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFFI ANNAN FOR
UNITED NATIONS BODYGUARDS FOR EACH PARTY. RECOGNIZING
THE UN WOULD INEVITABLY BE SLOW TO RESPOND, MANDELA
SAID HE INTENDED TO ASK SOME OTHER COUNTRY TO PROVIDE
THAT SERVICE, SINCE SENDING SOUTH AFRICANS WOULD
APPEAR TOO FORWARD ON MANDELA'S PART. MANDELA FELT HE
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03963 03 OF 04 191359Z
MUST DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON.
14. (C) COMMENT: WHILE WOLPE'S MEETING ELICITED NO
CLEAR PLEDGE TO ABANDON A SET SIGNING DATE, THE
DISCUSSION DID BRING ABOUT SEVERAL IMPORTANT OPENINGS.
MANDELA CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD OUR FOCUS ON THE DANGER OF
PREMATURE SIGNATURE WITH REMAINING UNRESOLVED ISSUES,
NAMELY THAT SUCH AN ACTION COULD COST LIVES. AS FOR
MANDELA'S PROTESTATIONS ABOUT THE FINALITY OF THE
REVISED AGREEMENT, WORKING COMMITTEE CHAIR (AND
MANDELA ADVISOR) NICHOLAS HAYSOM LATER CLARIFIED
THAT HE IS INTERACTING WITH VARIOUS PARTIES TO SHARE
THE EARLY DRAFT OF THE FINAL PROPOSAL, AND THAT THERE
REMAINS "SPACE FOR FURTHER INTERACTION." AT THE END
OF THE CONVERSATION, MANDELA ACTUALLY VERBALIZED THE
NEED FOR A "CEASE FIRE BEFORE SIGNING," BUT U.S.
PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTOOD, AND NICHOLAS HAYSOM'S
SUBSEQUENT COMMENTS SUPPORTED, THAT MANDELA PROBABLY
ACTUALLY REFERRED TO AN ADVANCE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN
AGREED CEASE-FIRE THAT WOULD TRIGGER IMMEDIATELY ON
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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6429
PAGE 01 HARARE 03963 04 OF 04 191359Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 CCO-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00
SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 PMB-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 700235 191359Z /45
O 191250Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6653
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RWANDA COLLECTIVE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003963
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/19/10
TAGS: PREL PGOV BY SF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT MANDELA
SIGNING. (NOTE: HE MAY ALSO HAVE MEANT A SUSPENSION OF
HOSTILITIES BEFORE SIGNATURE, SOMETHING HE IS SEEKING
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03963 04 OF 04 191359Z
FROM THE TWO REBEL GROUPS. END NOTE.) MANDELA IS ALSO
CLEARLY AWARE THAT THE SELECTION OF TRANSITIONAL
LEADERSHIP IS BOTH DIFFICULT AND UNRESOLVED. HAYSOM SAID
MANDELA'S POSITION IS THAT THE SIGNING MUST NOT BE HELD
UP WHILE A LEADER IS SELECTED, PARTICULARLY SINCE MANDELA
FEELS IT IS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO CHOOSE AN INTERIM
LEADER; HOWEVER, SEVERAL PARTIES DO NOT WANT TO SIGN
WITHOUT RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. HAYSOM FELT ONE ACCEPTABLE
COMPROMISE WOULD BE FOR CURRENT PRESIDENT BUYOYA TO
GOVERN THE SIX MONTH IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD IN A DEPARTING
EXERCISE OF GOVERNMENT CIVILIANIZATION BEFORE THE
TRANSITION ACTUALLY BEGINS. FINALLY, MANDELA APPARENTLY
TOOK WOLPE'S DISCUSSION OF THE NEED TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN DIFFERING CATEGORIES OF BURUNDIAN PRISONERS
ON BOARD.
15. (U) MANDELA AND WOLPE PARTED BY OBSERVING THAT
THE PROCESS IS GOING FORWARD, AND THAT THEY WOULD WORK
TOGETHER IN ARUSHA LATER THIS WEEK TO FURTHER THAT
END. IRVING
CONFIDENTIAL
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