Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME5369
2003-11-26 13:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY ON EU-AFRICA TROIKA: PEACE AND SECURITY,

Tags:  PREL KPKO XA ZI IT EUN 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005369 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2013
TAGS: PREL KPKO XA ZI IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY ON EU-AFRICA TROIKA: PEACE AND SECURITY,
ZIMBABWE, AND EU-AF DIALOGUE

REF: BRUSSELS 05330

CLASSIFIED BY: POL M/C T. COUNTYRMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005369

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2013
TAGS: PREL KPKO XA ZI IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY ON EU-AFRICA TROIKA: PEACE AND SECURITY,
ZIMBABWE, AND EU-AF DIALOGUE

REF: BRUSSELS 05330

CLASSIFIED BY: POL M/C T. COUNTYRMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: THE RECENT EU-AFRICA MINISTERIAL TROIKA
IDENTIFIED PEACE AND SECURITY AS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR
THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A PEACE
SUPPORT OPERATION FACILITY (PSOF),WELCOMED THE RE-INITIATION
OF THE EU-ZIMBABWE DIALOGUE AND COMMITTED BOTH SIDES TO
IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EU-AFRICA DIALOGUE. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) BRUNO CABRAS, MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA REVIEWED HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECENT EU-AFRICA
MINISTERIAL TROIKA WHICH HE CHAIRED NOVEMBER 10 IN ROME. HE
STATED THAT THE TROIKA IDENTIFIED PEACE AND SECURITY AS THE
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE CONTINENT AND THAT BOTH PARTIES
AGREED THAT WITHOUT PEACE AND SECURITY THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY
MEANINGFUL DEVELOPMENT REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF AID AND
ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. CABRAS STATED THAT AFRICANS ARE
DETERMINED AND WILLING TO MANAGE THEIR OWN CRISES BUT NEED A
SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO HELP THEM SUCCEED. TO THIS END, THE EU
WILL ALLOCATE 250 MILLION EURO FROM ITS DEVELOPMENT
ASSISTANCE BUDGET TO SET UP A PEACE SUPPORT OPERATION
FACILITY (PSOF) WHICH WILL SERVE AS A FUNDING SOURCE FOR
TRAINING, MEDIATION, PEACEKEEPING AND POST-CONFLICT
OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY AFRICAN FORCES. CABRAS BELIEVES THIS
INITIATIVE WILL STRENGTHEN AFRICAN CAPACITIES AND PROVIDE
GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS WHEN SECURITY ISSUES
ARISE. FURTHERMORE, THE FACILITY WILL PROVIDE A GREATER SENSE
OF OWNERSHIP, SOLIDARITY AND RESPONSIBILITY SINCE IT WOULD BE
MANAGED BY AFRICANS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE EU AND THE UN.
BOTH SIDES AGREED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS INITIATIVE AND THE
EU COUNCIL APPROVED CREATION OF THE PSOF AT THE NOVEMBER 17
GAERC.


3. (C) CABRAS REPORTED THAT AFTER BEING TEMPORARILY HALTED,
THE EU-ZIMBABWE DIALOGUE WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE EU-SADC
FRAMEWORK. HE STATED THAT THE EU ARTICULATED ITS POSITION IN
WRITING TO SADC AND THE AU ESTABLISHING CLEAR BENCHMARKS AND
CALLING FOR A CHANGE IN POLICIES IN HARARE TO MEET THESE
GOALS. THE AFRICANS WELCOMED THE EU'S EFFORTS EXPRESSING A
NEED FOR THE EU-AFRICA SUMMIT TO CONVENE EARLIER IN ORDER TO
DEAL WITH THE WORSENING SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE. CABRAS STATED
THAT THE EU'S GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE DIALOGUE OPEN AND TO
PURSUE A CHANGE OF POLICIES NOT A CHANGE OF REGIME. CABRAS
ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN FOR MEDIA FREEDOMS AND THE FOOD CRISIS
IN ZIMBABWE (REFTEL).


4. (C) BOTH SIDES ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EU-AFRICA DIALOGUE BY ENSURING A BALANCE
BETWEEN POLITICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES AND REACHING
COMMON UNDERSTANDING ON ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST. TO ACHIEVE
THIS, THE PARTIES AGREED TO WORK THROUGH THE NEPAD FRAMEWORK
AND FOCUS ISSUES INTO FOUR GROUPS OF COMMON PRIORITIES: PEACE
AND SECURITY, GOVERNANCE, REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. CABRAS REPORTED THAT THE PRIORITY ITEMS
FOR THE NEXT OFFICIALS LEVEL TROIKA TO BE HELD IN IRELAND IN
THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004 ARE: AID, AFRICAN EXTERNAL DEBT,
MIGRATION AND CULTURAL GOODS RETURN. IN CLOSING, CABRAS
EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT COMMITMENTS MADE BY INTERNATIONAL
CONSENSUS IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS (MONTERREY, JOHANNESBURG,
DURBAN, MILLENNIUM GOAL) WERE NOT BEING HONORED AND THUS
COULD REDUCE CREDIBILITY AND LEAD TO FURTHER POLITICAL CRISIS
ON THE CONTINENT.
SEMBLER

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2003ROME05369 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL