TANZANIA: PRESIDENT KIKWETE ASSURES AMBASSADOR OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DAR ES SALAAM 000498 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT AF/E FOR B YODER, AF/RSA FOR J NAY AND C BECK PASS TO MCC FOR G BREVNOV AND L BLACK TREASURY FOR L KOHLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID ECON PHUM TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA: PRESIDENT KIKWETE ASSURES AMBASSADOR OF HIS INTEREST IN INCREASING MILITARY COOPERATION AND RESOLVING DIVISIONS IN ZANZIBAR Classified By: Political Officer Mary B. Johnson for reasons 1.4(b,d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Taking time out from chairing a six-day working retreat for ministers and deputy ministers, President Jakaya Kikwete met with Ambassador Retzer in Arusha March 15 to discuss peacekeeping, Zanzibar, the MCC compact process, and his upcoming visit to the United States in May 2006. President Kikwete said that he wants Tanzania to increase its participation in African peacekeeping operations (PKO) and is keenly interested in working closely with the United States to improve the PKO capacity of the Tanzanian military. He assured the Ambassador that a high-level contact in the Ministry of Defense would be named to coordinate USG HIV AIDS assistance to the Tanzanian military. ¶2. (C) President Kikwete explained how he has been working within his CCM party to ascertain next steps needed to reconcile the divide between the two isles of Zanzibar, despite the immediate problems of Tanzania's power and food shortages that have absorbed much of his time during his first weeks in office. The President and the Ambassador agreed that the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) party, which won parliamentary seats in all 18 constituencies of Pemba, are sending signals that they are willing to cooperate with the President to find a way forward. President Kikwete said that he plans to travel to the U.S. sometime in May to speak at Harvard University and in Atlanta. The Ambassador offered to help set up official meetings for him in Washington D.C. at the appropriate levels; President Kikwete welcomed the Ambassador's offer of assistance and said he looked forward to a full slate of meetings. End summary. Military Priorities: HIV Prevalence Rate and Peacekeeping -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) In a 30 minute meeting requested by Ambassador Retzer to discuss peacekeeping, the MCC compact process and Zanzibar, President Kikwete expressed his concern that the HIV/AIDS infection rate in the Tanzanian military was an "acute problem." He assured the Ambassador that a high level contact within the Ministry of Defense would be appointed as requested by the Embassy. The contact would closely coordinate with the Defense Attache office concerning all USG efforts to stem the rising HIV prevalence rate within the Tanzania Peoples Defense Force (TPDF). He also agreed, his schedule permitting, to meet with two-star General Jonathan Gration, the Director of Policy, Planning and Assessments from the U.S. EU Command (EUCOM),during the general's upcoming visit to Tanzania, to discuss augmenting the TPDF's peacekeeping operations capacity and other military issues. ¶4. (C) President Kikwete admitted that Tanzania has not been proactive enough in peacekeeping in recent years, but said he had already told his top military leadership that increased participation in African peacekeeping efforts is one of his priorities for the TPDF. Kikwete observed that Tanzania's peacekeeping role in Liberia "had not been so positive; consequently we have been too cautious about getting more involved in PKO efforts." The President continued: "However, I have directed the top brass that from now we need to be more active in both training for and participation in peacekeeping." He told the Ambassador that "your government has my support to work closely with our Ministry of Defense because we need to build the PKO capacity of our forces." ¶5. (C) Kikwete also stated he would like to see overall military to military cooperation between the United States and Tanzania increase. Although he is currently scheduled to pay courtesy calls on the leaders of neighboring countries the week of March 20 (Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda), DAR ES SAL 00000498 002 OF 003 Kikwete said he would meet with General Gration of EUCOM if the general were still in town when he returns to Dar es Salaam. President Kikwete stated: "We have a lot to learn from the U.S., not only in PKO capacity building, but in many aspects of military cooperation." The Ambassador stressed that military to military cooperation is built on mutual sharing and learning, and each country is able to contribute a different set of skills. Kikwete reiterated that he believed that Tanzania's military is in need of more cooperation with the U.S.: "I am sure we will be the greater beneficiaries, so let us see how we can make that happen." Reconciliation on Zanzibar -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador asked President Kikwete his view of progress to reconcile the political, economic and social divide that appears to be widening between the two isles of Zanzibar, Unguja and Pemba. Kikwete said he is approaching the issue from his prior experience in conflict resolution and has been holding quiet &proximity talks8 with key persons both within his own CCM party and with the Civic United Front (CUF). His strategy to date has been to verify the mood in both camps in "preparation to make my next move." Stating that he believes that he now has his "feet on the ground" in his role as President, he noted that throughout the history of the United Republic of Tanzania, when there is a difficult phase or any friction in relations, it has almost always originated from Zanzibar. "We know that Zanzibar is our Achilles heel, but I am confident that gradually I will be able to deal with the opposition, as well as with players within the CCM," Kikwete observed. "I do not want to say the mistrust is deep-rooted, but I will say that there are historical linkages." Thus he said his plan was to proceed with reconciliation "cautiously, but steadily." ¶7. (C) President Kikwete believed that once Tanzania's food and power shortage crises are resolved over the next few months, he will be able to make "more moves here and there8 to convince colleagues, friends and adversaries on a strategy to resolve the strained relationship between Unguja and Pemba, as well as to improve the overall relationship between Zanzibar and the Mainland. &I have been trying some confidence building measures and believe that the signals are right from both camps,8 Kikwete said. ¶8. (C) Ambassador Retzer observed that the signal he is getting from the Civic United Front (CUF) party leaders is that they want to stay engaged and to work with President Kikwete to find a way forward. President Kikwete agreed that he had the same impression and noted that in mediation, it is essential to be sure that both or all sides have confidence in the mediator. "Only then is it possible to make progress. Once that confidence is there, then, like a chess game, we can make the next move. The way toward reconciliation is not easy, but also not insurmountable," Kikwete concluded. MCC Compact and Threshold Agreement -------------- ¶9. (SBU) In response to the Ambassador's inquiry on the Government of Tanzania (GOT)'s consultative process to prepare a MCC compact proposal, President Kikwete stated that he understands the process is proceeding on schedule and should not be a problem. He noted that the GOT has developed a four-pillar plan (known as &Mkukuta" in Swahili) through an in-depth consultative process to address poverty and to jump-start the economy in the areas of energy, water, infrastructure and education. Ambassador Retzer added that it is equally important that Tanzania's MCC compact proposal mesh with what other donors are doing or planning in terms of large scale development projects. Kikwete acknowledged the importance of such coordination, and agreed that the MCC DAR ES SAL 00000498 003 OF 003 consultative plan and coordinator should take that aspect into consideration. In Kikwete's view the MCC compact process is going well, and he believed it would not be a &headache8 to have Tanzania's proposal ready within MCC,s required six-month time frame. ¶10. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that one key aspect of the soon-to-be-signed Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) threshold agreement between the MCC and the GOT is the creation of a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in Tanzania. However, the FIU can only be established if the Tanzanian parliament passes the anti-money laundering bill that was approved by the Cabinet almost a year ago, but still has not moved to the Parliament. The Ambassador said that for the MCA process to move forward smoothly and on schedule, the anti-money laundering bill should be passed by Parliament before or by the summer of 2006. Kikwete requested his staff to follow-up on the current status of this bill and report back. High Level Visits -------------- ¶11. (SBU) The Ambassador told President Kikwete that Secretary of Treasury Snow,s visit had been postponed due to SIPDIS important budgetary discussions in the U.S. Congress and that he appreciated the hard work and cooperation of the GOT to prepare for Snow's visit. Kikwete understood that budgets are critical issues for any government and looked forward to a future visit from Secretary Snow. The Ambassador also extended an invitation to Kikwete to be the speaker at the Embassy's July 4th celebration. The President said that unless he was still at the African Union Summit, which is often scheduled for that week, he would try his best to join the official Embassy celebration in July. ¶12. (C) President Kikwete noted that he had been invited to speak at Harvard University in mid-May 2006 as well as at the East African Business Summit in Atlanta sponsored by former Ambassador Andrew Young's organization. Ambassador Retzer assured Kikwete that if he wanted to visit Washington D.C., during that trip, we would help ensure appropriate meetings at the highest possible levels. The President said he expected to travel to the U.S. in May, and would be pleased to pay official calls in Washington. He instructed his staff to coordinate closely with the Embassy when the dates were certain. Comment -------------- ¶13. (C) Kikwete appeared relaxed, confident, and focused on Tanzania,s first-ever post election retreat by a President and his full cabinet (ministers, deputies, and permanent secretaries). Foreign Minister Migiro told the Ambassador SIPDIS that Kikwete was personally chairing all sessions himself on issues ranging from public sector reform to political reconciliation on Zanzibar. Kikwete,s &roll up the sleeves8 style of leadership at this retreat was yet another sign that this extraordinarily active President is intent on putting his personal stamp on every facet of his new government's agenda. It is also a sign that, despite an executive branch sprawling across 22 separate ministries, he is determined to forge a sense of "team." As we have said in past reporting, "generals don,t win wars, armies do." President Kikwete knows that he alone cannot transform the way business is done in this country; only a government inspired to institute change from the national to grass roots level can do so. End comment. RETZER