Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LILONGWE553
2006-06-21 07:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
DAS THOMPSON VISIT TO MALAWI
how-toVZCZCXRO5677 RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR DE RUEHLG #0553 1720709 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 210709Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2947 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
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
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
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