Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01HARARE1999
2001-06-26 15:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
EU FRUSTRATED AT LACK OF PROGRESS IN DIALOGUE WITH
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 261515Z Jun 01 CONFIDENTIAL PTO6609 PAGE 01 HARARE 01999 261520Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 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 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W ------------------FDC701 261520Z /68 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9171 INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001999
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 06/26/11
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: EU FRUSTRATED AT LACK OF PROGRESS IN DIALOGUE WITH
ZIMBABWE, THROWS DOWN GAUNTLET
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AUBREY HOOKS. REASONS: 1.5
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 01999 261520Z
(B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001999
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 06/26/11
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: EU FRUSTRATED AT LACK OF PROGRESS IN DIALOGUE WITH
ZIMBABWE, THROWS DOWN GAUNTLET
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AUBREY HOOKS. REASONS: 1.5
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 01999 261520Z
(B) AND (D).
1. (C) THE SWEDES, AS EU PRESIDENT, HAVE LED THE EU TROIKA'S
DISCUSSIONS IN HARARE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE UNDER ARTICLE
8 OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENT, WHICH BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR. THE
TROIKA'S EFFORTS TO ENGAGE THE GOZ IN SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
ITS RANGE OF CONCERNS, HOWEVER, HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH MFA
PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE, THE SENIOR GOZ INTERLOCUTOR IN
THIS EXERCISE.
2. (C) POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF WAS INFORMED BY HIS SWEDISH
COUNTERPART -- IRINA SCHOULGIN -- ON JUNE 26 THAT THE EU'S GENERAL
AFFAIRS COUNCIL (COMPRISING FOREIGN MINISTERS) IS FED UP WITH THE
GOZ'S REFUSAL TO ENGAGE SERIOUSLY WITH THE EU. THE COUNCIL DECIDED
IN BRUSSELS ON JUNE 25 TO DELIVER A TOUGH WARNING TO THE GOZ AND
INSTRUCTED THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR IN HARARE TO DELIVER A LETTER TO
THE GOVERNMENT CONVEYING THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
--NOTING LACK OF SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN ITS DIALOGUE WITH ZIMBABWE;
--EXPRESSING DEEP CONCERN OVER DEVELOPMENTS HERE, CALLING FOR:
A) AN END TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE;
B) AN INVITATION TO THE EU TO MONITOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION;
C) CONCRETE ACTIONS TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF THE MASS MEDIA;
D) INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY AND RESPECT FOR ITS DECISIONS;
E) AN END TO ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF PROPERTY;
--PROMISING TO FOLLOW CLOSELY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ABOVE AREAS DURING
THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES IF SUBSTANTIAL
PROGRESS IS NOT ACHIEVED.
3. (C) THE LAST POINT, SCHOULGIN NOTED, IS A CLEAR THREAT TO MOVE
TO ARTICLE 96, WHICH COULD REQUIRE THE SUSPENSION OF ALL EU AID TO
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 01999 261520Z
ZIMBABWE, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL. THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR HOPES TO
DELIVER THE LETTER TO FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE ON JUNE 27 AND
SUBSEQUENTLY PLANS TO RELEASE IT PUBLICLY.
4. (C) ON ANOTHER MATTER, SCHOULGIN REPORTED THAT EU GREAT LAKES
ENVOY AJELLO IS IN TOWN TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DRC. HE MET
WITH FM MUDENGE ON JUNE 25 AND WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE ON
JUNE 26. AMBASSADOR HOOKS PLANS TO DINE WITH AJELLO THE EVENING OF
JUNE 26 AND WILL SOLICIT A READOUT OF HIS HARARE DISCUSSIONS.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT SEEN A COPY OF THE EU'S LETTER, THE
DRAFT LANGUAGE DESCRIBED BY OUR SWEDISH COLLEAGUE IS VERY STRONG
INDEED. ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF EU DIPLOMATS HERE, THE TWO-MONTH
DEADLINE IS FIRM; WITHOUT ACHIEVEMENT OF "SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS"
DURING THAT PERIOD, THE EU APPEARS DETERMINED TO MOVE TO ARTICLE
96. IT IS REFRESHING TO SEE THE EU TAKING SUCH A HARD LINE.
ALTHOUGH WE ARE SKEPTICAL THAT THE LETTER WILL ELICIT SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS, IT WILL PUT THE GOZ ON NOTICE THAT IT FACES SERIOUS
CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT TAKING CONCRETE STEPS TO ADDRESS EU CONCERNS.
HOOKS
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 06/26/11
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: EU FRUSTRATED AT LACK OF PROGRESS IN DIALOGUE WITH
ZIMBABWE, THROWS DOWN GAUNTLET
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AUBREY HOOKS. REASONS: 1.5
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 01999 261520Z
(B) AND (D).
1. (C) THE SWEDES, AS EU PRESIDENT, HAVE LED THE EU TROIKA'S
DISCUSSIONS IN HARARE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE UNDER ARTICLE
8 OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENT, WHICH BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR. THE
TROIKA'S EFFORTS TO ENGAGE THE GOZ IN SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
ITS RANGE OF CONCERNS, HOWEVER, HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH MFA
PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE, THE SENIOR GOZ INTERLOCUTOR IN
THIS EXERCISE.
2. (C) POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF WAS INFORMED BY HIS SWEDISH
COUNTERPART -- IRINA SCHOULGIN -- ON JUNE 26 THAT THE EU'S GENERAL
AFFAIRS COUNCIL (COMPRISING FOREIGN MINISTERS) IS FED UP WITH THE
GOZ'S REFUSAL TO ENGAGE SERIOUSLY WITH THE EU. THE COUNCIL DECIDED
IN BRUSSELS ON JUNE 25 TO DELIVER A TOUGH WARNING TO THE GOZ AND
INSTRUCTED THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR IN HARARE TO DELIVER A LETTER TO
THE GOVERNMENT CONVEYING THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
--NOTING LACK OF SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN ITS DIALOGUE WITH ZIMBABWE;
--EXPRESSING DEEP CONCERN OVER DEVELOPMENTS HERE, CALLING FOR:
A) AN END TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE;
B) AN INVITATION TO THE EU TO MONITOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION;
C) CONCRETE ACTIONS TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF THE MASS MEDIA;
D) INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY AND RESPECT FOR ITS DECISIONS;
E) AN END TO ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF PROPERTY;
--PROMISING TO FOLLOW CLOSELY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ABOVE AREAS DURING
THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES IF SUBSTANTIAL
PROGRESS IS NOT ACHIEVED.
3. (C) THE LAST POINT, SCHOULGIN NOTED, IS A CLEAR THREAT TO MOVE
TO ARTICLE 96, WHICH COULD REQUIRE THE SUSPENSION OF ALL EU AID TO
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 01999 261520Z
ZIMBABWE, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL. THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR HOPES TO
DELIVER THE LETTER TO FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE ON JUNE 27 AND
SUBSEQUENTLY PLANS TO RELEASE IT PUBLICLY.
4. (C) ON ANOTHER MATTER, SCHOULGIN REPORTED THAT EU GREAT LAKES
ENVOY AJELLO IS IN TOWN TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DRC. HE MET
WITH FM MUDENGE ON JUNE 25 AND WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE ON
JUNE 26. AMBASSADOR HOOKS PLANS TO DINE WITH AJELLO THE EVENING OF
JUNE 26 AND WILL SOLICIT A READOUT OF HIS HARARE DISCUSSIONS.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT SEEN A COPY OF THE EU'S LETTER, THE
DRAFT LANGUAGE DESCRIBED BY OUR SWEDISH COLLEAGUE IS VERY STRONG
INDEED. ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF EU DIPLOMATS HERE, THE TWO-MONTH
DEADLINE IS FIRM; WITHOUT ACHIEVEMENT OF "SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS"
DURING THAT PERIOD, THE EU APPEARS DETERMINED TO MOVE TO ARTICLE
96. IT IS REFRESHING TO SEE THE EU TAKING SUCH A HARD LINE.
ALTHOUGH WE ARE SKEPTICAL THAT THE LETTER WILL ELICIT SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS, IT WILL PUT THE GOZ ON NOTICE THAT IT FACES SERIOUS
CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT TAKING CONCRETE STEPS TO ADDRESS EU CONCERNS.
HOOKS
CONFIDENTIAL
>