ARTICLE 98 UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000555 SIPDIS FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV LT KICC SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98 UPDATE REF: MASERU 492 CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador sought update on Lesotho's progress toward an Article 98 agreement in October 28 meeting with Foreign MinIster Moleleki. As noted in reftel, Trade Minister Malie predicted the matter would be resolved in early November building on the Prime Minister's discussion with Assistant Secretary Frazer in New York and subsequent conversation with Ambassador in Maseru. ¶2. (C) The FOMIN confirmed that he had tasked Minister Malie to work on a draft agreement using Department-supplied samples. Moleleki has just returned from Asia and plans to be in Addis Ababa for an AU meeting October 30, returning to Lesotho on or about November 4. We will follow up with him after his trip.