LESOTHO ATTENDANCE AT AU SUMMIT

UNCLAS MASERU 000034 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED FOR AF/FO AND AF/S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SF SUBJECT: LESOTHO ATTENDANCE AT AU SUMMIT REF: STATE 8014 ¶1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Motlatsi Ramafole informed post January 20 that Lesotho's delegation to the AU Summit in Abuja, Nigeria would be as follows: Deputy Prime Minister Archibald Lesao Lehohla, Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Monyane Moleleki, MFA Deputy Principal Secretary ¶T. P. Lekhela and Ambassador M. Leteka, GOL Ambassador to the AU (also accredited to Nigeria). ¶2. Post recommends that PDAS Ranneberger have a meeting (or, at minimum, a pull aside) with the DPM and with MFA. The new MFA is up to date on U.S. positions regarding regional issues (such as elections) as well as broader issues in our bilateral relationship. ¶3. Suggested Talking Points: -- We appreciate Lesotho's active role in the SADC Troika and growing role in the AU. -- Your national elections (2002) were free and fair; we are encouraged by your commitment to have successful local government elections in April. (Note: These will be Lesotho's first local government elections.) -- We encourage Lesotho to play an active role in sharing your good record with Zimbabwe. In that regard, we urge you to encourage Zimbabwe to follow SADC guidelines as its March election approaches. -- We appreciate the strong relationship the U.S. has with Lesotho in strengthening democracy through dialogue and training; sponsoring the upcoming U.S./Lesotho Trade Delegation; and increasing U.S. funding to fight HIV/AIDS in your country (30-40% infection rate). PERRY