ZIMBABWE FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON DRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 006643 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS USUN FOR HOLBROOKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/10 TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV PINR ZI SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON DRC DEVELOPMENTS REFTEL: LUSAKA 5253 CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) IN A MEETING WITH ASSISTANT SECRETARY SUSAN E. RICE NOVEMBER 15, ZIMBABWE FOREIGN MINISTER STAN MUDENGE REPORTED THAT THE MAPUTO II SUMMIT, RESCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 27, WAS EXPECTED TO FORMALIZE THE AGREEMENT REACHED IN TRIPOLI TO SEND AN AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO THE DRC. THE DEFENSE MINISTERS OF THE STATE ACTORS WERE ALSO PREPARED TO PRESENT THEIR PLANS ON IMPLEMENTING THE 15KM PULLBACK AGREED UPON IN KAMPALA. THE MINISTER EMPHASIZED THE TRIPOLI AGREEMENT WILL SUPPORT THE LUSAKA ACCORDS, NOT UNDERMINE THEM. HE COMMENTED THAT MORE RESULTS ARE ACHIEVED WHEN HEADS-OF- STATE ARE LOCKED IN A ROOM TOGETHER WITHOUT THEIR MINISTERS AND DELEGATIONS. MUDENGE LATER TOLD THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY THAT HE AND UGANDAN MINISTER AMAMA MBABAZI WROTE THE TRIPOLI DRAFT DECLARATION, INDICATING THAT RWANDA AND UGANDA ARE COMMITTED TO WITHDRAWING THEIR FORCES FROM THE DRC, IF AN AFRICAN FORCE IS DEPLOYED. THE MINISTER DID NOT EXPECT MUCH PROGRESS IN THE JMC MEETING, HELD NOVEMBER 17-18 (REFTEL),BECAUSE EACH SIDE WILL SIMPLY PRESENT THEIR ACCUSATIONS, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPAGANDA. ¶2. (C) WHEN ASKED ABOUT ZIMBABWE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 06643 282205Z RECENT KATANGA CLASHES, MUDENGE DENIED ACTIVE ZIMBABWEAN PARTICIPATION. HE SAID THAT IT IS NOT ZIMBABWE THAT IS MOVING ITS FORCES IN KATANGA, BUT IT IS THE FAC. HE ALSO BLAMED REBEL LEADER BEMBA FOR THE FIGHTING IN EQUATEUR BECAUSE HE IS "BENT ON GOING TO KINSHASA." MUDENGE REMARKED THAT THERE IS GROWING FRUSTRATION AMONG THE STATE PLAYERS WITH UGANDAN PRESIDENT MUSEVENI, BUT DID NOT ELABORATE. ¶3. (U) ASSISTANT SECRETARY RICE CLEARED THIS MESSAGE. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >