Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE4064
2000-07-25 07:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
AJELLO TRYING TO SELL NON-CONGOLESE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 250728Z Jul 00 CONFIDENTIAL PTO8156 PAGE 01 HARARE 04064 250725Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /010W ------------------71FE94 250726Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6681 INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN PRIORITY AMEMBASSY GABORONE PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LUANDA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LUSAKA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 04064 250725Z USEU BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY ROME
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 004064
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
ROME ALSO FOR VATICAN
NAIROBI PLEASE PASS TO S/E WOLPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2010
TAGS: PREL MOPS PINR ZI CG MZ
SUBJECT: AJELLO TRYING TO SELL NON-CONGOLESE
BELLIGERENTS' SUMMIT TO ZIMBABWEANS
REF: (A) LUSAKA 3300 (NOTAL)
(B) MAPUTO 2843 (NOTAL)
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 004064
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
ROME ALSO FOR VATICAN
NAIROBI PLEASE PASS TO S/E WOLPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2010
TAGS: PREL MOPS PINR ZI CG MZ
SUBJECT: AJELLO TRYING TO SELL NON-CONGOLESE
BELLIGERENTS' SUMMIT TO ZIMBABWEANS
REF: (A) LUSAKA 3300 (NOTAL)
(B) MAPUTO 2843 (NOTAL)
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) EUROPEAN UNION SPECIAL ENVOY ALDO AJELLO IS IN
HARARE FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT DURING WHICH HE HOPES TO SELL
THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT ON A SUMMIT OF NON-CONGOLESE
BELLIGERENTS, AS DESCRIBED IN REFTELS. AJELLO, WHO HAD
BEEN IN HARARE FOR 24 HOURS AND HAD MET ONLY WITH
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 04064 250725Z
THE CONGOLESE AMBASSADOR, DR. KIKAYA BIN KARUBI, WAS
HOPING TO SEE FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE, NATIONAL SECURITY
MINISTER GOCHE AND PRESIDENT MUGABE, BUT HAD RECEIVED NO
CONFIRMATION OF ANY OF THE REQUESTED MEETINGS BY LATE
JULY 24.
2. (C) AJELLO EXPRESSED THE VIEW TO CHARGE THAT NEITHER
SIDE OF THE CONGOLESE CIVIL WAR WANTED PEACE, AND THAT
THE CURRENT SITUATION FOLLOWED AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED
PATTERN. ONCE ONE OF THE SIDES ENJOYED A SLIGHT
ADVANTAGE IN THE FIELD, IT BEGAN TO PLAY GAMES IN TERMS
OF THE PEACE PROCESS. AT THE MOMENT IT WAS KABILA, WHO
WAS MOUNTING SUNDRY PRETEXTS TO DUMP SIR KETUMILE MASIRE
AS FACILITATOR, AND PURPOSELY MISINTERPRETING THE LIMITS
OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AND
THE MANDATE OF A PEACEKEEPING OPERATION THAT WOULD BE
DEPLOYED IN PHASES. WITHOUT ALLIES NEITHER SIDE WOULD
LAST LONG, AJELLO REASONED, PARTICULARLY KABILA. THE
EUROPEAN UNION ENVOY ALSO ESTIMATED THAT THE POLITICAL
AND HUMAN COST TO THE EXTERNAL BELLIGERENTS HAD BEEN
SUFFICIENTLY HIGH THAT THEY WERE READY TO WITHDRAW.
3. (C) THE GOAL OF A SUMMIT OF THE NON-CONGOLESE
BELLIGERENTS WOULD BE TO PUT THEIR CONGOLESE PROXIES ON
NOTICE THAT EITHER THEY ADHERED TO THE LUSAKA PEACE
PLAN, HOWEVER IMPERFECT, OR FACED REVOCATION OF SUPPORT.
AJELLO WAS ESPECIALLY CURIOUS TO KNOW THE ZIMBABWEAN
REACTION TO SUCH AN IDEA, AS HE WAS CONFIDENT THE OTHER
PARTIES (INCLUDING RWANDA AND UGANDA) WOULD AGREE TO IT.
A MEETING OF THE CONGOLESE BELLIGERENTS WOULD FOLLOW THE
SUMMIT, HE CONTINUED. CALLING CONGOLESE PRESIDENT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 04064 250725Z
KABILA A MAN WITH NO VISION BUT A MASTER MANIPULATOR,
THE EUROPEAN UNION ENVOY AFFIRMED THAT THE CONGOLESE HAD
TO BE PERSUADED THAT CONTINUING TO PROSECUTE THE WAR WAS
NOT AN OPTION.
4. (C) AJELLO THEN EXPLAINED THAT MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENT
CHISSANO ("A MAN WITH NO CHARISMA, GREY AND PALE") WOULD
BE THE ONE TO ORGANIZE AND HOST THE SUMMIT. ALTHOUGH
CHISSANO REPORTEDLY CONFIDED TO AJELLO THAT HE WAS IN
KABILA'S BAD BOOKS, AS THE CONGOLESE PRESIDENT THOUGHT
HE WAS IN LEAGUE WITH THE SOUTH AFRICANS, THE ANGOLANS
RULED OUT ZAMBIAN MEDIATOR CHILUBA CONVENING THE SUMMIT.
IRVING
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
ROME ALSO FOR VATICAN
NAIROBI PLEASE PASS TO S/E WOLPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2010
TAGS: PREL MOPS PINR ZI CG MZ
SUBJECT: AJELLO TRYING TO SELL NON-CONGOLESE
BELLIGERENTS' SUMMIT TO ZIMBABWEANS
REF: (A) LUSAKA 3300 (NOTAL)
(B) MAPUTO 2843 (NOTAL)
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) EUROPEAN UNION SPECIAL ENVOY ALDO AJELLO IS IN
HARARE FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT DURING WHICH HE HOPES TO SELL
THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT ON A SUMMIT OF NON-CONGOLESE
BELLIGERENTS, AS DESCRIBED IN REFTELS. AJELLO, WHO HAD
BEEN IN HARARE FOR 24 HOURS AND HAD MET ONLY WITH
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 04064 250725Z
THE CONGOLESE AMBASSADOR, DR. KIKAYA BIN KARUBI, WAS
HOPING TO SEE FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE, NATIONAL SECURITY
MINISTER GOCHE AND PRESIDENT MUGABE, BUT HAD RECEIVED NO
CONFIRMATION OF ANY OF THE REQUESTED MEETINGS BY LATE
JULY 24.
2. (C) AJELLO EXPRESSED THE VIEW TO CHARGE THAT NEITHER
SIDE OF THE CONGOLESE CIVIL WAR WANTED PEACE, AND THAT
THE CURRENT SITUATION FOLLOWED AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED
PATTERN. ONCE ONE OF THE SIDES ENJOYED A SLIGHT
ADVANTAGE IN THE FIELD, IT BEGAN TO PLAY GAMES IN TERMS
OF THE PEACE PROCESS. AT THE MOMENT IT WAS KABILA, WHO
WAS MOUNTING SUNDRY PRETEXTS TO DUMP SIR KETUMILE MASIRE
AS FACILITATOR, AND PURPOSELY MISINTERPRETING THE LIMITS
OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AND
THE MANDATE OF A PEACEKEEPING OPERATION THAT WOULD BE
DEPLOYED IN PHASES. WITHOUT ALLIES NEITHER SIDE WOULD
LAST LONG, AJELLO REASONED, PARTICULARLY KABILA. THE
EUROPEAN UNION ENVOY ALSO ESTIMATED THAT THE POLITICAL
AND HUMAN COST TO THE EXTERNAL BELLIGERENTS HAD BEEN
SUFFICIENTLY HIGH THAT THEY WERE READY TO WITHDRAW.
3. (C) THE GOAL OF A SUMMIT OF THE NON-CONGOLESE
BELLIGERENTS WOULD BE TO PUT THEIR CONGOLESE PROXIES ON
NOTICE THAT EITHER THEY ADHERED TO THE LUSAKA PEACE
PLAN, HOWEVER IMPERFECT, OR FACED REVOCATION OF SUPPORT.
AJELLO WAS ESPECIALLY CURIOUS TO KNOW THE ZIMBABWEAN
REACTION TO SUCH AN IDEA, AS HE WAS CONFIDENT THE OTHER
PARTIES (INCLUDING RWANDA AND UGANDA) WOULD AGREE TO IT.
A MEETING OF THE CONGOLESE BELLIGERENTS WOULD FOLLOW THE
SUMMIT, HE CONTINUED. CALLING CONGOLESE PRESIDENT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 04064 250725Z
KABILA A MAN WITH NO VISION BUT A MASTER MANIPULATOR,
THE EUROPEAN UNION ENVOY AFFIRMED THAT THE CONGOLESE HAD
TO BE PERSUADED THAT CONTINUING TO PROSECUTE THE WAR WAS
NOT AN OPTION.
4. (C) AJELLO THEN EXPLAINED THAT MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENT
CHISSANO ("A MAN WITH NO CHARISMA, GREY AND PALE") WOULD
BE THE ONE TO ORGANIZE AND HOST THE SUMMIT. ALTHOUGH
CHISSANO REPORTEDLY CONFIDED TO AJELLO THAT HE WAS IN
KABILA'S BAD BOOKS, AS THE CONGOLESE PRESIDENT THOUGHT
HE WAS IN LEAGUE WITH THE SOUTH AFRICANS, THE ANGOLANS
RULED OUT ZAMBIAN MEDIATOR CHILUBA CONVENING THE SUMMIT.
IRVING
CONFIDENTIAL
>