Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MAPUTO187
2006-02-13 14:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:  

MOZAMBIQUE: FEBRUARY 9 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT

Tags:  ETRD EINV PGOV PHUM PINS PREL PTER MARR MZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5080
PP RUEHMR
DE RUEHTO #0187/01 0441429
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131429Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4971
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000187 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S - JMALONEY
AF - JFRAZER
AF/RSA - MBITTRICK
IO/PSC - DHANKINS
NSC - CCOURVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2016
TAGS: ETRD EINV PGOV PHUM PINS PREL PTER MARR MZ
KPKO, KHIV, KCRM
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: FEBRUARY 9 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT
GUEBUZA


Classified By: Ambassador Helen LaLime, for reasons 1.4 (b/d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000187

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S - JMALONEY
AF - JFRAZER
AF/RSA - MBITTRICK
IO/PSC - DHANKINS
NSC - CCOURVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2016
TAGS: ETRD EINV PGOV PHUM PINS PREL PTER MARR MZ
KPKO, KHIV, KCRM
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: FEBRUARY 9 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT
GUEBUZA


Classified By: Ambassador Helen LaLime, for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (U) Summary: Ambassador met with President Guebuza
February 9, at his invitation. This request was prompted by
a meeting Ambassador and DCM had the week before with
Presidency Secretary-General Ambassador Antonio Sumbana on
U.S. programs and priorities in Mozambique. The President
had been briefed by Sumbana, but he wanted to know more.
While a discussion on the MCC was the focal point of the
meeting (reported septel),President Guebuza also underscored
coastal and border security, peacekeeping and corruption as
priority areas for greater support and collaboration. End
summary.

Improving Business Links
--------------

2. (U) The Ambassador began the meeting by referring to the
President's successful trips to the United States last year
and by reviewing post's efforts since the June Corporate
Council on Africa (CCA) Business Summit on Africa to sponsor
a trade delegation to Mozambique, which is now expected to
take place in late June/early July. She also informed the
President that CCA is willing to host other events for
President Guebuza with the American private sector when he
travels to the United States. President Guebuza was most
appreciative of this, and noted that he would be in the U.S.
in New York in September and would try to set aside one to
two days for this purpose.

Peacekeeping/ Sudan
--------------

3. (C) The President responded to the Ambassador's question
on whether Mozambique had been approached to participate in

peacekeeping efforts in the Sudan by saying that it had a
pending request from the AU for 50 policemen. He said he
wanted to comply with the request, but due to constitutional
requirements he would need to obtain approval from the
National Council on Defense and Security, which he thought
would not be a problem. He said he was aware that the U.N.
would also want peacekeepers. There, he said, funding and
logistical support would be the challenges; Mozambique's
forces would need support if they were to participate. He
thanked the USG for the work that the ACOTA program is doing
in equipping and training Mozambique's soldiers to take part
in peacekeeping on the continent.

Coastal and Border Security
--------------

4. (C) President Guebuza next raised coastal and border
security as an area of concern. He said he was aware that
the Embassy has sought to raise the profile of this issue
with U.S. decision makers, but more needed to be done. This
is more than just a sovereign issue, he stressed. Drug
smugglers and people connected to terrorism are taking
advantage of Mozambique's vulnerabilities. The President
expressed concern over the thousands of people are entering
Mozambique illegally, mostly from Tanzania, the DRC and
Somalia. He said this is an issue he is also working with
Tanzania, but additional resources for land borders and the
coast were needed. The Ambassador explained that we are
awaiting a coastal security requirements plan from the
Ministry of Defense, which we are told is in its final
stages. This plan is intended to serve as a guide for our
efforts to obtain additional funding in this area. We also
will provide support to strengthen border inspections. The
Ambassador noted, however, that our funds are limited and
obtaining additional support is contingent on our ability to
work together to clearly define requirements. The President
indicated we would get the support we required. (Comment:
The Ambassador is seeking a meeting with the Minister of
Defense to press for the plan and to define coastal security
actions that can be taken in the interim with current
resources.)

Corruption
--------------

5. (U) The Ambassador told President Guebuza that USAID had
funded a diagnostic study to assist the US mission to better
understand corruption in Mozambique and to develop
programmatic strategies that will contribute to the GRM's
efforts in this area. She offered a copy to the President as
soon as the Portuguese version of the report becomes

MAPUTO 00000187 002 OF 002


available. She also suggested that as the National
Anti-Corruption Plan is implemented beginning this March, an
effort be made to keep donors apprised of progress. It is
important that information on the successes and challenges of
efforts to combat corruption be well disseminated, to promote
frank dialogue and a better understanding of actions being
taken -- and to counter a widely held perception that the
effort against corruption is mostly talk and little action.
The President agreed that action was critical, and promised
to read and comment on the report.

HIV/AIDS
--------------

6. (U) President Guebuza was pleased when the Ambassador
commended him for his leadership on HIV/AIDS. He told her
that his next initiative would be to devote the period from
February 16-20 to a series of activities highlighting the
fight against AIDS. He said he would reach out to all
sectors of society and include youth, business, religious and
traditional leaders.

Government Accountability
--------------

7. (U) President Guebuza said that after his HIV/AIDS
initiative he intends to head to the provinces to begin a
campaign at provincial and district levels to stress the need
for greater government accountability towards the communities
they serve. He will be asking each district, based on
consultation with their communities, to establish three to
four priorities where government needs to act to deliver
results. Improving government responsiveness and
accountability is imperative, he stressed, if he is to
succeed in delivering results in reducing poverty in
Mozambique, a key objective of his 2004 election platform.

Meeting the New Assistant Secretary
--------------

8. (U) As the meeting drew to a close, the President
expressed interest in the Bureau of African Affairs' new
Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer. The Ambassador told him
we were hoping she would be able to make a trip to Mozambique
in the coming months. He was pleased to hear this.

Comment
--------------

9. (U) A relaxed Guebuza certainly conveyed the importance
he attaches to furthering the relationship with the United
States, as well as his willingness to be approached should
there be any issues we feel we need to raise directly with
him.
La Lime