BURUNDI: PRESIDENT BUYOYA SEEKS STEPPED UP U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 004376

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE - MENNUTI AND AF/C, AF/E AND PRM/AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2012
TAGS: BY MOPS PGOV PREF PREL SF MOPS PGOV PREF PREL SF TZ TZBY
SUBJECT: BURUNDI: PRESIDENT BUYOYA SEEKS STEPPED UP U.S.
AND TANZANIAN PRESSURE ON REBEL FACTION

REF: DAR ES SALAAM 4582

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR R. JAMES NICHOLSON,
REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D)

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SUMMARY
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PAGE 02 VATICA 04376 01 OF 02 091559Z
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1. (C) SUMMARY: BURUNDI PRESIDENT BUYOYA, ATTENDING A
SANT'EGIDIO CONFERENCE IN PALERMO ON CONFLICT AND DIALOGUE,
REQUESTED A MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON SEPTEMBER 1 TO
REINFORCE HIS INTEREST IN STEPPED UP U.S. AND TANZANIAN
PRESSURE ON THE CNDD FACTION OF THE FDD. MEETING AT THE
SUGGESTION OF THE SANT'EGIDIO MEDIATOR INVOLVED IN BURUNDI,
DON MATTEO ZUPPI, BUYOYA SAID HE BELIEVED THE U.S. SHOULD
BOTH APPROACH THE FACTION DIRECTLY THROUGH ITS CONTACTS WITH
THEM IN TANZANIA, AND ALSO URGE THE TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT TO
DO MORE TO PRESSURE THE FACTION TO PARTICIPATE SERIOUSLY IN
NEGOTIATIONS. AMBASSADOR URGED BUYOYA TO APPROACH OUR
EMBASSY IN BUJUMBURA DIRECTLY, BUT PROMISED TO PASS ALONG THE
PRESIDENT'S CONCERNS TO OUR EMBASSY AND WASHINGTON. END
SUMMARY.

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BUYOYA FRUSTRATED BY CNDD/FDD RECALCITRANCE
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2. (C) BURUNDI PRESIDENT BUYOYA, KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE
ANNUAL SANT'EGIDIO INTER-FAITH CONFERENCE, "FAITHS AND
CULTURES WITHIN CONFLICT AND DIALOGUE," (SEPTEL) REQUESTED A
MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON AT THE SUGGESTION OF FATHER
DON MATTEO ZUPPI, SANT'EGIDIO'S SPIRTUAL LEADER AND AFRICA
EXPERT, WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN BURUNDI AND THE REGION FOR
MANY YEARS. BUYOYA OUTLINED FOR THE AMBASSADOR THE STATE OF
PLAY IN BURUNDI, STRESSING THAT ALTHOUGH MUCH PROGRESS HAS
BEEN MADE, THE GOVERNMENT'S INABILITY TO BRING THE REMAINING
TWO REBEL FACTIONS INTO THE PEACE PROCESS, AND THEIR
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PAGE 03 VATICA 04376 01 OF 02 091559Z
UNWILLINGNESS TO ENTER INTO A CEASE-FIRE THREATENS THE
PROGRESS TO DATE. ACCORDING TO BUYOYA, THE CNDD/FDD
CONTINUES TO FIND "PRETEXTS" TO AVOID SUBSTANTIVE
NEGOTIATIONS, SUCH AS INSISTING THAT THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT
WAS NOT A COMBATANT, AND THEREFORE ONLY THE ARMY COULD BE
INVOLVED IN CEASE-FIRE NEGOTIATIONS. BUYOYA SAID HE HAD
REQUESTED INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT -- PARTICULARLY FROM TANZANIA
-- TO CONVINCE THE CNDD/FDD TO ENGAGE SERIOUSLY IN
NEGOTIATIONS, BUT THAT THE REBEL GROUP "CONTINUED TO PLAY A
DELAYING GAME."

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U.S. PRESSURE NEEDED
--------------


3. (C) BUYOYA SAID HIS GOVERNMENT HAD CONCLUDED THAT ONLY
THE U.S., WORKING WITH TANZANIA, COULD OVERCOME THE CURRENT
STALEMATE. NOTING THAT U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN THE GREAT LAKES,
SUDAN, AND ANGOLA HAD LED TO SOLUTIONS, HE BELIEVED SIMILAR
ENGAGEMENT NOW IN BURUNDI WOULD BE PIVOTAL. DESPITE CURRENT
FRUSTRATIONS, HE BELIEVED THE "TIME WAS RIPE FOR A SOLUTION."
OBSERVING THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CNDD/FDD REBEL LEADERS
WERE "WELL-KNOWN" TO OUR EMBASSY IN TANZANIA, HE URGED THE
U.S. TO PRESSURE THE LEADERS DIRECTLY TO ENTER NEGOTIATIONS.
IN ADDITION, HE URGED US TO APPROACH THE GOVERNMENT OF
TANZANIA TO STEP UP THEIR PRESSURE ON THE FDD/CNDD. HE
BELIEVED THAT TANZANIA HAD "ALL THE NECESSARY WEAPONS TO PUSH
THEM," BUT NEEDED MORE PRESSURE FROM THE U.S. TO BRING THEM
TO BEAR.


4. (C) THE AMBASSADOR THANKED BUYOYA FOR SHARING HIS
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PAGE 04 VATICA 04376 01 OF 02 091559Z
PERSPECTIVES AND ASKED IF HE HAD APPROACHED OUR EMBASSY IN
BUJUMBURA DIRECTLY WITH HIS REQUEST. HE SAID HE HAD NOT, BUT
THAT HE WOULD DO SO UPON HIS RETURN TO THE CAPITAL. THE
AMBASSADOR ENCOURAGED HIM TO DO SO, AND PROMISED TO CONVEY
HIS VIEWS TO OUR EMBASSIES IN BUJUMBURA AND DAR-ES-SALAAM AND
TO WASHINGTON. HE NOTED THAT THE U.S. SHARED THE PRESIDENT'S
DESIRE TO BRING ALL THE REBEL GROUPS ACTIVELY INTO THE PEACE
PROCESS.


5. (C) ASKED ABOUT THE REBELS' OBJECTIVES, BUYOYA SAID IT
WAS NOT CLEAR TO HIM AT THIS POINT WHAT MORE THEY NEEDED. HE
BELIEVED ALL THE CLAIMS THE REBELS HAD PUT FORWARD --
DEMOCRACY, INSTITUTIONALIZING SECURITY GUARANTEES, AND
SETTLEMENT OF PAST CONFLICTS -- WERE ANSWERED IN THE EXISTING
PEACE ACCORD. THE REAL ISSUE WAS HOW TO INTEGRATE THE REBELS
INTO THE NEW INSTITUTIONS, HE SAID. "WE ARE READY TO GIVE
THEM ROOM," HE ADDED, "BUT WE NEED THEM TO ENGAGE SERIOUSLY."

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COMMENT
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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9263

PAGE 01 VATICA 04376 02 OF 02 091559Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00
DODE-00 DOTE-00 PERC-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00
FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NSAE-00 PM-00
IRM-00 SS-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 SAS-00
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P 091536Z SEP 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 004376

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE - MENNUTI AND AF/C, AF/E AND PRM/AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2012
TAGS: BY MOPS PGOV PREF PREL SF MOPS PGOV PREF PREL SF TZ TZBY
SUBJECT: BURUNDI: PRESIDENT BUYOYA SEEKS STEPPED UP U.S.
AND TANZANIAN PRESSURE ON REBEL FACTION


6. (C) SANT'EGIDIO'S DON MATTEO ZUPPI REMAINS ACTIVE IN
CONFLICT MEDIATION THROUGHOUT AFRICA. ZUPPI NO DOUBT SAW AN
OPPORTUNITY WITH PRESIDENT BUYOYA AND THE AMBASSADOR AT THE
SAME GATHERING TO SEEK TO CATALYZE SOME MOVEMENT AND PUT SOME
PRESSURE ON THE REBELS. EMBASSY VATICAN WOULD BE WILLING TO
COORDINATE A MEETING BETWEEN INCOMING AMBASSADOR YELLIN AND
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PAGE 02 VATICA 04376 02 OF 02 091559Z
DON MATTEO ZUPPI, SHOULD THE AMBASSADOR DESIRE, OR TO WORK
WITH SANT'EGIDIO IN ANY WAY THAT COULD BE HELPFUL TO THE
DEPARTMENT'S AND INVOLVED EMBASSIES' EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN
THE PEACE PROCESS.


7. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002VATICA04376 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL