MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA ON HAMAS ELECTION WIN

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000150 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/S FOR HTREGER NEA/IPA FOR TWILLIAMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IS MZ PGOV PLO PREL SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA ON HAMAS ELECTION WIN ¶1. (U) President Guebuza attended the just-concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he participated on a panel on Chinese investment in Africa. On January 30, while speaking to reporters shortly before returning home to Mozambique, he was asked for his reaction to the victory by Hamas in the Palestinian elections. According to the press, Guebuza responded that his government would act in accordance with rules governing relations between states. He said that Mozambique's ruling party, FRELIMO, had longstanding relations with Fatah, but that this would not be an obstacle to good relations with Hamas. Guebuza underlined, however, that whenever possible Mozambique would urge Hamas "to adopt a policy that favors continued dialog in the region, always in support of peace for all." ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Fatah and FRELIMO have had friendly ties dating back to before Mozambique's independence in 1975, when FRELIMO viewed the PLO as partners in "the struggle for self-determination." Yassir ARAFAT came to Maputo to pay his respects during the funeral for Samora Machel, Mozambique's first president, in October 1986. The Palestinian embassy sits on a street corner across from the Mozambican presidency complex. La Lime