PRESIDENT KARUME AND AMBASSADOR RETZER DISCUSS APP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAR ES SALAAM 000084

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT AF/E FOR B YODER AND D MALAC
DEPT CA/EX FOR PAUL CANTRELL; CA/VO/F/P FOR JILL NYSTROM
AND CA/OSC/ACS/AF RUTH BRANSON
ALSO PLEASE PASS TO MCC FOR G BREVNOV, MKAVANAUGH AND G
HOLLISTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2012
TAGS: CMGT CVIS CASC PREL PROGV PHUM ECON TZ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KARUME AND AMBASSADOR RETZER DISCUSS APP
ZANZIBAR, USG AID, AND PROSPECTS FOR RECONCILIATION

REF: A. A. DAR ES SALAAM 01835


B. B. DAR ES SALAAM 1433

DAR ES SAL 00000084 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, Tulinabo Mushingi, for r
eason 1.4 (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. During their January 16 meeting, President
of Zanzibar, Amani Abeid Karume, asked Ambassador Retzer to
consider a "special request" that the new American Presence
Post (APP) in Zanzibar offer consular (i.e. visa services) in
Zanzibar. Explaining that the APP would not offer consular
services, the Ambassador noted that only one foreign service
officer had been assigned to the APP. President Karume went
to great lengths to express his gratitude for the "very
successful" USG program to combat malaria in Zanzibar and for
the anxiously awaited assistance from the Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC). The President also underscored
his intention to reduce polarization between Zanzibar's two
islands (Pemba and Unguja),in response to the Ambassador's
inquiry on the status of reconciliation efforts. END
SUMMARY.

President Karume Requests Visa Services in Zanzibar...
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Citing the inconvenience and expense of travel to
Dar es Salaam, President Karume asked if the newly-approved
APP could offer consular services in Zanzibar. "I remember
that my first visa to the U.S. was issued here," Karume
reminisced, adding that other missions such as the British
and Italians provided honorary consular services in Zanzibar.
The Ambassador replied that the APP would not have consular
privileges, explaining that the Embassy would have to gauge
the feasibility of offering such services. Karume made one
last plea: "Please Your Excellency, consider this my special
request." The Ambassador assured Karume he would relay the
request to Washington.

(Comment: Post recognizes that no American Presence Posts
provide visa services and that the current biometric
collection practices would make expansion to Zanzibar
unfeasible. Post also followed up the British and Italian
missions and learned that they do not provide visa services
on Zanzibar.)


3. (SBU) President Karume emphasized that the APP on
Zanzibar was warmly welcome, remarking that the U.S. used to
have a consulate on Zanzibar in the 1960s. To Karume's
surprise, the Ambassador shared the fact that, the first U.S.
consulate in Africa was established in Zanzibar in 1837.
Regarding the APP, Ambassador Retzer explained that the
Embassy was currently looking for office space in Stone Town
and had plans to open the APP in July 2007, staffed by one
U.S. foreign service officer.

And Praises USG Assistance: Malaria and MCC
--------------


4. (SBU) President Karume thanked the Ambassador for the
"excellent partnership" in combating malaria on Zanzibar. He
said that through the USG's malaria program, malaria had been
reduced by more than 80 percent in Zanzibar over the past
year. He added how pleased he was that President Bush had
mentioned Zanzibar's success story during the December
Malaria summit, putting Zanzibar "on the world map." The
Ambassador stressed the importance of sustaining the success
achieved through the USG's residual indoor spraying and
ensuring that airplanes and ferry boats did not bring in
malaria from the Mainland. Karume agreed: "We have seen
what other countries are doing to spray ships and planes and
we also have to initiate such measures." The Ambassador
remarked what an added bonus for tourism it would be if
Zanzibar could be declared "malaria free." Nodding, Karume
said that Government of Zanzibar (GOZ) needed to ensure the
islands were as conducive to tourism as possible.


DAR ES SAL 00000084 002 OF 002



5. (SBU) Ambassador Retzer informed President Karume that
the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC),Ambassador John Danilovich, would be
visiting Zanzibar on January 29. Karume said that he was
very excited about the prospects for MCC investments in
water, energy, and roads to develop Zanzibar and that
increasing cooperation with the USG would be highly
beneficial for the future of Zanzibar's economic growth. The
Ambassador noted that accelerating economic growth was the
exact purpose of the MCC.

Ambassador Retzer Encourages Karume on Reconciliation
-------------- --------------

6. (C) Finally, the Ambassador raised his concern about
polarization between Unguja and Pemba, stating that it was
"incumbent upon the President of Zanzibar to reduce tensions
between the two islands." Karume responded that ensuring
harmony in Zanzibar was a policy of both the GOZ and the CCM.
"Without Ungujga and Pemba, we have no Zanzibar," Karume
said. He assured the Ambassador that there were "only small
political differences" and that he didn't believe there was
"discontent per se." The Ambassador responded that often
times leaders did not recognize the level of discontent
within opposition parties and that he hoped the GOZ would
continue concerted efforts toward reconciliation. Saying
that he had already initiated contact with the opposition
party, Karume stressed, "That is my objective and contacts
with the opposition have already begun. I don't want my
legacy to be that I missed the chance!"


7. (C) President Karume also emphasized the GOZ's effort to
ensure that every development project on Unguja was
replicated on Pemba. He told the Ambassador about two
projects to build vocational schools - one on Pemba and one
on Unguja. Karume explained that the schools would open in
2007 and had been built with assistance from the African
Development Bank and a 15 percent contribution from the GOZ.
These schools, he said, would provide hands-on skill training
for Zanzibaris and offer business development training for
the students. Given the high level of unemployment in
Zanzibar, the Ambassador said that such schools were greatly
needed.

Comment:
--------------

8. (C) Since President Karume had requested this meeting to
discuss the new APP, post expected Karume's request to
provide visa services in Zanzibar. While unable to provide
visa services, we expect that the APP Zanzibar will - like
other APPs - provide certain routine and emergency American
Citizen Services (ACS).


9. (C) On prospects for reconciliation, President Karume
sent mixed signals. He was clear that reducing tension
between Pemba and Unguja was a primary goal and he assured
the Ambassador that discussions with the opposition were
already underway. That said, Karume's denial of discontent
and dismissal of political differences as minor is
disconcerting. Karume's intention to reduce polarization
may be sincere, but unless he can communicate a better grasp
of the problem and acknowledge the deep-seated frustration of
the opposition party (Refs A and B),reconciliation will
continue to be an uphill battle. END COMMENT.
RETZER