ITALY BELIEVES ZIMBABWE MUST BE INVITED TO EU-SADC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003604

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2007
TAGS: PREL ECIN ZI IT UN
SUBJECT: ITALY BELIEVES ZIMBABWE MUST BE INVITED TO EU-SADC
FORUM

REF: STATE 136846

CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL P. THIEDE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: IN RESPONSE TO REFTEL DEMARCHE REQUESTING
THAT ZIMBABWE BE EXCLUDED FROM THE NOVEMBER EU MEETING WITH
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC),THE MFA'S
OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN AFFAIRS STATED THAT THE
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GOI DISAGREED. WHILE THE LACK OF DEMOCRACY IN ZIMBABWE WAS
REGRETTABLE, THE MEETING WAS SLATED TO BE BETWEEN THE EU AND
SADC, NOT INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES, AND THUS THERE WAS NO
QUESTION OF EXCLUDING ONE OF THE MEMBERS. FAILING TO INVITE
ZIMBABWE WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO HOLD THE
MEETING, AN OUTCOME THAT WOULD HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR
SOUTHERN AFRICAN-EUROPEAN RELATIONS AND REDUCE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO USE DIALOGUE TO INFLUENCE SOUTHERN AFRICA TO
DEMOCRATIZE. EU MEMBERS WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO AGREE ON THIS
MATTER ON JULY 22. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) POLOFF MET WITH MARIO BOLOGNA, THE NEW OFFICE
DIRECTOR FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN AFFAIRS AT THE MFA, ON JULY 17
TO PRESENT REFTEL DEMARCHE REQUESTING THAT ZIMBABWE NOT BE
INVITED TO THE EU-SADC FORUM SLATED FOR NOVEMBER. BOLOGNA
SAID THAT THE GOI WAS "AGAINST GRADING ZIMBABWE AGAINST THE
OTHERS," IMPLYING THAT ZIMBABWE WAS NOT THE ONLY MEMBER OF
SADC WITH A DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT. HE WAS "CONVINCED SADC
REPRESENTS SOUTHERN AFRICA AND CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO
DEMOCRATIZE THE CONTINENT." ELABORATING, HE SAID THAT THE
EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES INCLUDED IN THE DIALOGUE COULD INFLUENCE
SOUTHERN AFRICA.


3. (C) BOLOGNA WAS CONVINCED THAT EXCLUSION OF ZIMBABWE
WOULD MEAN THAT DIALOGUE WITH SADC WOULD END. THE GOI DID
NOT WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN, AS IT WOULD "HAVE CONSEQUENCES
FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN-EUROPEAN RELATIONS." THE AFRICANS WOULD
FEEL THAT EUROPE WAS AGAINST THEM. ASKED WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE
HE ENVISIONED, BOLOGNA WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CONCRETE
ANSWER. HE NOTED THAT IF AN EU STATE WERE EXCLUDED FROM AN
EU MEETING WITH ANOTHER REGIONAL ORGANIZATION, THE OTHER
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STATES WOULD REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE AS A PROTEST. THE
INVITATION WAS TO THE GROUP, NOT TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES.


4. (SBU) BOLOGNA CONFIRMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS SLATED TO BE
DISCUSSED JULY 22. HOWEVER, HE PREDICTED THAT CONTROVERSY
WOULD STYMIE THE EU, WHICH WOULD NOT MAKE A DECISION ON THE
INVITATIONS UNTIL MUCH CLOSER TO NOVEMBER.
SEMBLER

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2002ROME03604 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL