DAS THOMPSON VISIT TO MALAWI

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000553 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF STATE FOR AF/S DAN MOZENA, GABRIELLE MALLORY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ECON EAID EFIN EINV PREL MI SUBJECT: DAS THOMPSON VISIT TO MALAWI ¶1. SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Carol Thompson has concluded a four day visit to meet with senior Malawian officials on Malawi's acceptance as a Presidential Malaria Initiative focus country, the GOM's continuing fiscal reform, and its progress in combating trafficking in persons. Thompson met with Minister of Health Marjorie Ngaunje and conducted a press event reaffirming USG-GOM ties in the health sector and announcing the PMI program. She also met with the Ministers of Finance, Child Development, and Foreign Affairs; the Resident U.N. Coordinator; leaders of Parliament; and health, civil society and business leaders among others. Ambassador Eastham took the opportunity of DAS Thompson's visit to express to the GOM the importance the USG puts on long-delayed district assembly elections. Thompson also visited USG-funded health projects in the Lilongwe area and meet with the local American community at the annual Embassy independence day picnic. End summary. ¶2. In her meeting with Ngaunje, Thompson stressed the importance on the struggle against malaria in Africa. Pointing out that more children die of malaria in Malawi than any other disease, Thompson expressed the PMI goal of cutting the number of deaths from malaria by 50 percent by ¶2010. Thompson and Ngaunje then presented prepared remarks on the PMI to local press, pointing out the USG commitment to assisting the struggles against both HIV/AIDS and malaria. ¶3. In her meeting with Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe, Thompson heard more about the challenges to achieving macroeconomic stability and attracting investment to Malawi. Gondwe pointed out the problems that the recent food crisis had presented to the GOM, and stressed the importance of donor support during the past year. Gondwe highlighted the importance to the GOM of improving the investment climate, pointing out the need for a separate system of commercial courts to expedite economic legal cases. Gondwe also thanked the USG for the support of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Threshold Program, and expressed confidence that the implementation of the program would be highly beneficial to the GOM. ¶4. Thompson's meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Joyce Banda and Minister of Women and Child Development revolved around Malawi's acceptance as the only sub-Saharan Africa country on the Tier 1 list for Trafficking in Persons. Thompson congratulated the GOM on its efforts, while urging the GOM to push even harder to combat TIP. ¶5. Thompson also met with Resident United Nations Coordinator Michael Keating while in Malawi. They discussed U.N. reform in Malawi, and particularly how the U.N. is attempting to reform UNAIDS. They also briefly touched on the recent visit to Malawi of UNAIDS chief Peter Piot, and his assessment of how Malawi has scaled up its efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS. ¶6. While in Malawi, Thompson also visited two USG funded health facilities in Lilongwe. She toured the Lighthouse Trust, a USG partner and Malawi's primary training facility for ART clinicians. She also visited Bottom Hospital, where the USG supports the family planning and child survival activities of Lilongwe's primary maternity ward. ¶7. Thompson also discussed various issues with diverse groups including: - A meeting with prominent parliamentarians over lunch to discuss the need for parliament to develop as an institution and form itself into a widely respected organization. - A discussion with NGO leaders over their hope that the ongoing constitutional review process might help to clarify the roles of both the legislature and the executive. - A dinner with health leaders focused on the challenges and sustainability of the health sector given the critical human capacity shortage in Malawi. - An evening talking over the ongoing problems within the business environment in Malawi with prominent local businessmen. ¶8. DAS Thompson has cleared this message. EASTHAM