TANZANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000439

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/28/15
TAGS: PREL KAWC PHUM SU TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE
ON SUDAN TRIBUNAL, AU COURT

REF: A) STATE 32127

B) DAR ES SALAAM 0374
C) STATE 29467
D) DAR ES SALAAM 0206

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Michael S. Owen for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Charge met on February 25 with Foreign Minister
Jakaya Kikwete to reiterate ref C demarche on Darfur, and
to underline our support for an AU/UN Darfur tribunal that
could utilize the existing ICTR infrastructure in Arusha.
Kikwete, who had just returned from two weeks of travel,
appeared not to have been briefed on this issue, despite
the Acting Permanent Secretary's promises to do so (ref B).


2. (C) Kikwete reacted more enthusiastically than had
other MFA officials to hosting the AU tribunal in Arusha
and to seeking the AU Court of Justice for Arusha. He said
he thought hosting the Darfur tribunal in Arusha would be
"great for Tanzania," and said he would welcome such a
development. That said, however, he noted that Tanzania
could not "appear to be greedy" by openly soliciting such a
move. Kikwete said the GOT would wait to see if a
consensus developed within the AU and then support that
consensus, but made it clear he would be happy with having
the tribunal in Arusha.


3. (C) On the location of the AU Court of Justice,
Kikwete said the GOT had not really focused on this issue,
but that it made "a lot of sense" for the court to be in
Arusha. Charge urged Kikwete to pursue this issue and make
a formal request to host the Court in Arusha if Tanzania is
genuinely interested; Kikwete confirmed that his interest
is genuine, and promised to direct his Ministry to take
action.


4. (C) Charge also urged the Minister to ensure the
Tanzanian delegation fully briefs the Security Council on
the position of the AU with regard to the Darfur tribunal.
Kikwete confessed that with all his recent travel he was
unsure of what views had been expressed within the AU, but
promised to instruct the Tanzanian delegation in New York
to brief the council on AU views.


5. (C) Kikwete told Charge that he would be traveling
around Tanzania for most of the next month because "the
election primary season" is getting underway. Kikwete said
the campaign for his party's nomination for the Presidency
would be in full swing throughout March and April, with
nominations to be announced on May 4.


6. (C) Comment: Kikwete reacted very warmly to both the
Darfur tribunal and the AU Court of Justice proposals, and
made promises to be helpful. As others had noted however,
he is constrained by the GOT's desire to avoid appearance
of unseemly behavior in openly soliciting the Darfur
tribunal for Arusha. Despite his promises to be helpful,
we think it unlikely he will play a major role in the
immediate future. On February 27 he formally announced his
candidacy for the presidency at a Dar es Salaam rally, and
as of February 28 he is already out on the campaign trail.
End comment.

OWEN