MOZAMBIQUE: FEBRUARY 9 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT

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