Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DARESSALAAM1286
2006-08-02 06:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Cable title:  

TANZANIA'S PRESIDENT REQUESTS U.S. STUDY ABROAD

Tags:  PGOV PREL EAID PHUM EFIN KTFN KPAO OPRC KMDR 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDR #1286/01 2140611
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 020611Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4466
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 3028
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 2393
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 2800
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0020
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 0842
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0196
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0190
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 001286 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E BYODER
PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY
AND PASS TO USAID AND CDC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID PHUM EFIN KTFN KPAO OPRC KMDR
TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA'S PRESIDENT REQUESTS U.S. STUDY ABROAD
FOR CLOSEST AIDES

REF: DAR ES SALAAM 01282

Classified By: D. Purnell Delly, Deputy Chief of Mission,
for reason 1.4 (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 001286

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E BYODER
PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY
AND PASS TO USAID AND CDC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID PHUM EFIN KTFN KPAO OPRC KMDR
TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA'S PRESIDENT REQUESTS U.S. STUDY ABROAD
FOR CLOSEST AIDES

REF: DAR ES SALAAM 01282

Classified By: D. Purnell Delly, Deputy Chief of Mission,
for reason 1.4 (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. In a recent meeting with Ambassador Retzer,
President Kikwete signaled his continuing personal role in
managing relations with the U.S. Government. On July 31,
President Kikwete called in the Ambassador to raise two
issues: (i) his decision to appoint a military attache to
Washington D.C. to promote expanded mil-to-mil relations with
the U.S. and, (ii) his desire to send key personal staff to
the U.S. for training to improve management of the
Presidential office (also known as State House). President
Kikwete was responsive to the variety of issues which
Ambassador Retzer raised, agreeing to encourage the Minister
of Health to approve fast and more effective "pin-prick" test
kits and to name an Anti-Money Laundering coordinator to lead
the process of establishing a Financial Intelligence Unit
(FIU). To maintain the strong positive momentum in
U.S.-Tanzanian relations, Post would appreciate Department's
assistance in identifying ways to support President Kikwete's
desire for State House capacity-building (see Action Request
para 4). END SUMMARY.

Kikwete Appoints Military Attache to Washington D.C...
-------------- --------------

2. (C) President Kikwete informed the Ambassador that the
GOT had decided to appoint a military attache to the United
States and that his government would formally communicate
this to the USG in the near future. President Kikwete
explained that the decision reflected the GOT's desire to
deepen military cooperation with the U.S. and develop
stronger military-to-military ties. Ambassador Retzer told
President Kikwete that he was very pleased with the decision

and the overall progress toward expanded U.S.-Tanzanian
military relations. Ambassador Retzer noted that he was
looking forward to visiting the Msata Clinic with the
President on August 24 as the clinic represented the first
humanitarian project undertaken by U.S. and Tanzanian
military forces since the 1990s. President Kikwete replied
that he too was looking forward to cutting the ribbon in late
August after returning from the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) Summit in Lesotho and his trip to Angola.


...and Requests Capacity-Building for State House Staff
-------------- --------------

3. (C) President Kikwete also raised a personal request
with the Ambassador: his desire to send his personal staff
for management training in Washington D.C. He explained, "I
would like to send some of my aides and maybe some press
officials to the U.S. to gain greater experience on how to
manage a President's Office." President Kikwete named two of
his assistants, Januari Makamba and David Jairo, whom he
believed would benefit from such training. Ambassador Retzer
responded positively, assuring President Kikwete that the
Embassy would look explore every possibility for facilitating
such a training program. While on the topic of fostering
government-to-government exchanges, Ambassador Retzer
informed President Kikwete about an upcoming Congressional
staff delegation, visiting Tanzania on August 8, to explore
the potential for establishing a U.S-Tanzanian legislative
exchange through the Inter-parliamentary exchange program.


4. (C) Action Request: Post would greatly appreciate the
Department's assistance in identifying ways to support
President Kikwete's desire to build management capacity at
the State House. Post intends to explore opportunities under
the Distinguished Visitors program but would appreciate
learning about different options which may be available to
support the President's request. We view the President's
request as yet another sign of his pro-U.S. leanings, and
therefore consider it important to be responsive.


Ambassador Urges Action on HIV/AIDS Testing,...
-------------- --------------

5. (SBU) Ambassador Retzer introduced President Kikwete to

the concept of new HIV/AIDS "pin-prick" test technology and
emphasized the USG goal to move HIV/AIDS testing further out
into the villages using mobile testing units. The Ambassador
explained that the USG had been talking with the Ministry of
Health (MOH) for about one year, urging the transition toward
"pin-prick" test kits which are most suited to Tanzania's
rural population since they do not require refrigeration or
skilled medical technicians to administer (reftel A). "The
GOT's adoption of 'pin-prick' test kits will enable us to
push out into the villages more quickly and ensure that even
the most remote villagers know their status and can gain
access to life saving drugs," the Ambassador told the
President.


6. (SBU) President Kikwete expressed his support for the
use of mobile testing units to increase HIV/AIDS testing
across Tanzania as long as the mobile units still provided
adequate counseling in conjunction with the tests. He asked
where the approval process stood on "pin-prick" test kits and
the Ambassador responded that from what he had learned, the
MOH was nearing the completion of its verification tests.
President Kikwete assured the Ambassador that he would
follow-up on the issue: "The Minister of Health will present
his budget in Parliament today. I will call to congratulate
him and also to encourage him on the approval of these new
test kits."


...Appointment of an AML Coordinator,
--------------

7. (C) Highlighting the link between the Anti-Money
Laundering (AML) legislation and the creation of Tanzania's
own Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU),Ambassador Retzer
explained that the funds to begin laying the foundation for
an FIU were now available under the Millennium Challenge
Account (MCA) Threshold program. The Ambassador stressed the
importance of appointing an AML coordinator to lead the
process of setting up the unit and ensuring cooperation among
Ministries. President Kikwete said that he did not foresee
any major difficulties with passage of the AML bill and
agreed that it would be a good idea to get someone in charge
of the FIU to begin thinking through the process. "This way,
by the time we have the law, we can hit the ground running,"
Kikwete noted.


...And Reconciliation on Zanzibar
--------------

8. (SBU) Responding to the Ambassador's inquiry about
reconciliation efforts on Zanzibar, President Kikwete
admitted that major activities were not yet underway.
However, he did say that after the end of the Parliamentary
session, he planned to send Minister Maunubali to the isles
to begin "creating an atmosphere conducive to
reconciliation." The Ambassador said that this would be
healthy and he encouraged the President to take steps to
bring about mutual understanding.


Peace-Keeping: Where Would Tanzanian Deploy?
-------------- -

9. (C) Ambassador Retzer raised the topic of peacekeeping
with President Kikwete, noting that an ACOTA team had
recently visited Tanzania and that a strategic conference had
been planned for October 2006. President Kikwete assured the
Ambassador that the GOT was prepared to give peacekeeping due
regard and said, "We need to play our part. Psychologically,
we are positively disposed to participation." The Ambassador
explained that Tanzania could have a fully trained battalion
by mid-2007 but that the USG could equip the battalion only
after the GOT decided where the battalion would be deployed.
"It would be helpful for the strategy meeting in October if
you could provide an indication of a potential location for
deployment," the Ambassador added.


10. (C) President Kikwete replied in a joking manner that
if he had to choose between a deployment in Darfur or
Lebanon, he would surely choose Lebanon. He added, "for sure
we will not choose Somalia," agreeing with Ambassador

Retzer's comment that there must be a "peace to keep" before
assembling peacekeeping operations. President Kikwete
elaborated on the deteriorating situation in Somalia, saying
"It is hard to believe what the government is doing;
establishing Islamic law, stirring up violence in the whole
region including Eritrea and Darfur. They are creating a
monster in the region."


Iran Resolution: Ambassador Thanks Kikwete for Support
-------------- --------------

11. (C) Ambassador Retzer thanked President Kikwete for his
government's support of the recent United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) Resolution on Iran. President Kikwete stated
that the Government of Tanzanian's position was simple: A
world free of nuclear arsenals. "We support even big powers
reducing their nuclear arsenals and we don't support any
country now trying to join the league of nuclear powers,"
Kikwete emphasized. He also added that he had recently made
India a bit angry by telling its leaders that he did not
believe it was a good thing for the country to acquire
additional nuclear weapons. President Kikwete added that the
Prime Minister of India would soon be visiting Tanzania.

Comment: State House Managing U.S.-Tanzanian Relations
-------------- --------------

12. (C) President Kikwete continues to take a highly
proactive, personal interest in managing the U.S.-Tanzania
bilateral relationship. Surprisingly, during the
Ambassador's last two meetings with President Kikwete, there
has not been any representation from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA),or more specifically the Americas division of
the MFA. President Kikwete's most recent request to meet
with the Ambassador demonstrates the growing trust and
confidence which he has placed in forging stronger ties with
the USG. Amidst parting formalities, President Kikwete
thanked the Ambassador for U.S. support and emphasized: "We
need this cooperation." Needless to say, providing training
for President Kikwete's closest aides would not only
constitute a new chapter in cooperation but enhance mutual
understanding as well as open new channels of communication
for the U.S. into Kikwete's inner office. END COMMENT.
RETZER