Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LUANDA104
2007-02-02 11:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:  

DAS CAROL THOMPSON MEETING ANGOLAN VICE FOREIGN

Tags:  PREL PGOV ETRD EINT EAID TBIO AO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLU #0104/01 0331104
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021104Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3677
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS LUANDA 000104 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF FRONT OFFICE AND AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EINT EAID TBIO AO
SUBJECT: DAS CAROL THOMPSON MEETING ANGOLAN VICE FOREIGN
MINISTER: DISASTER RELIEF, VOTER REGISTRATION AND A TIFA

REF: A. LUANDA 84

B. LUANDA 75

UNCLAS LUANDA 000104

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF FRONT OFFICE AND AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EINT EAID TBIO AO
SUBJECT: DAS CAROL THOMPSON MEETING ANGOLAN VICE FOREIGN
MINISTER: DISASTER RELIEF, VOTER REGISTRATION AND A TIFA

REF: A. LUANDA 84

B. LUANDA 75


1. (SBU) Summary: On January 29, 2007, visiting AF DAS Carol
Thompson received GRA thanks for the disaster relief
assistance provided to Angola by the United States following
the recent flooding and noted the positive contribution of
the 2005 MEDFLAG Exercise. Thompson reiterated USG interest
in moving forward quickly on a Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement, and the benefits this could bring to bilateral
trade. In addition, she noted the smooth voter registration
process and discussed Angola,s possible willingness to join
future international peacekeeping missions. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Deputy Assistant Secretary Carol Thompson and
Ambassador Cynthia Efird met with Vice Minister of External
Relations, Jorge Chicoty, of the Angolan Ministry of External
Relations (MIREX) on January 29, 2007, during DAS Thompson,s
visit to Angola. In addition to discussing bilateral issues
Chicoty discussed at length the changing GRA views regarding
Sudanese President Bashir,s candidacy for the Chairmanship
of the African Union (AU) (reftel A). Econoff accompanied
DAS Thompson and Amb. Efird. Chicoty was joined by
America,s Director Balbina da Silva.

U.S. Disaster Assistance
--------------

3. (SBU) DAS Carol Thompson expressed U.S. concern over
Angola,s loss of life and damage caused by recent flooding.
Chicoty thanked the United States, commenting that President
Dos Santos had noted that the U.S. was the first country to
step forward and offer assistance and recalling that
Ambassador Efird,s call was made while the rain was still
falling. Ambassador Efird mentioned that USD 70,000 in
disaster relief money would be disbursed through CARE and
used to provide chlorine for water treatment and other
emergency supplies. She said we were also hoping to secure
U.S. military assistance through the visit of the USS
Kauffman for those left homeless. The Ambassador added that

the U.S. offer of help comes as one friend to another.
Chicoty said that at the initial meeting on the GRA,s
emergency response, several Angolan Armed Forces (FAA)
generals cited the successful MEDFLAG program of US-Angolan
joint military in 2005 as having greatly strengthened their
ability for emergency action response. Note: The FAA has
been praised in the television and print media, as well as by
observers on the ground, for having been quick on the spot to
provide logistical assistance to the hardest hit communities
as they coped with flooding and mudslides. End Note. Amb.
Efird told Vice Minister Chicoty that she would explore
possible ways sailors on upcoming SS Kaufmann ship visit
could also provide assistance with community action projects
in connection with post-flood reconstruction.

Voter Registration
--------------

4. (SBU) Chicoty said that the registration process had been
going smoothly but slowly, requiring an average of 20 minutes
to register each voter. Ambassador Efird described her visit
to a voter registration station in Cuando Cubango Province
the previous week. One woman said at 4:00 p.m. that she had
been waiting since 8:00 a.m. to register. Chicoty explained
that verifying the registrant,s identity and age accounts
for most delays. He added that the National Electoral
Commission might need to add more registration stations in
order to complete its work on schedule before the end of

2007. DAS Thompson asked whether the registration period
might be extended and Chicoty replied that Angola,s
political parties would have to make that decision.

Trade Agreement (TIFA) with the United States
--------------

5. (SBU) DAS Thompson expressed hope that Angola and the
United States would soon sign a Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement (TIFA) which would help stimulate and
energize bilateral trade. Describing Angola as a
cutting-edge country, she noted that trade within the SADC
will also be important to Angola. She praised Angola,s
investment in infrastructure rehabilitation, and hoped these
improvements, and the TIFA, would attract yet more U.S.
investment. Thompson explained that the TIFA process would
include visits from working groups to increase GRA capacity
to manage trade-related issues. Chicoty then turned to
America,s Office Director Balbina de Silva to ask, in
Portuguese, which internal MIREX approvals the TIFA still
needed. Balbina replied that MIREX,s legal department was
studying the TIFA and that the TIFA needed &other
clearances,8 without elaborating, before MIREX could pass
the matter to the Council of Ministers. Chicoty sounded

doubtful that the TIFA would need further approvals beyond
the legal department,s. (Note: Other than this aside,
Chicoty conducted the entire meeting in English. End note.)


6. (SBU) Angola regards the United States as an important
trading partner, Chicoty offered, citing its recent purchase
of Boeing airplanes and adding that Angola will still need
one additional Boeing 747. Chicoty believes that Angola
would prefer to buy many of the goods and services it needs
from the United States and hoped a TIFA agreement would
facilitate trade. He regretted that there is still no U.S.
bank operating in Angola. Ambassador Efird agreed, while
noting that Citibank maintains a representative office in
Luanda and that the country was well served by Portuguese,
South African and other international banks. Chicoty hoped
that with a TIFA, more American businesses would invest in
Angola,s non-petroleum sectors.


7. (SBU) Chicoty acknowledged that Angola,s laws governing
business need reform in order to attract investment, but
hoped American investment would speed Angola,s transition
from a socialist to a market economy. The GRA, he said, was
beginning to understand that private enterprise could improve
on the government,s current performance in many sectors,
including the distribution grid that provides electricity
from the Kapanda Dam. However, privatization also demands a
change in the people,s thinking. Many Angolans have grown
used to free electricity, stealing their power. A private
company would have to begin by teaching people to become
customers. Chicoty noted sadly that illegal power hook-ups
accounted for several electrocutions during the recent
flooding. Chicoty also described his own small construction
company,s trouble in getting commercial bank financing for
its projects because gaining clear title to land is so
difficult in Angola and &bigger fish8 get preferential
treatment. (Note: In August 2006, the GRA issued
implementing regulations for its 2004 Land Law. The new
regulations clarify titling procedures. End note.)

8.(SBU) Chicoty lamented that Angolans remain passive,
especting to receive handouts, not wanting to work to feed
themselves. The Ambassador said she had visited projects
that showed a different, hard-working side of Angolans. She
described a USAID-financed pilot project in Cuando Cubango
Province that encourages municipal groups to manage and
maintain a clean water pump system. To keep their pump
going, the residents decided they needed higher income from
agriculture. This decision led them to diversify into
raising new crops and livestock, she continued. Members of
the cooperative also contribute one day a week to the common
plot, and this project,s success makes it a potential model
for agricultural development in the rest of Angola. Chicoty
said such a pilot should be replicated, including in his
place of birth ) Huambo. (N.B. Chicoty,s family are
traditional leaders in the Plan Alto.)

Participation in Peacekeeping Mission
--------------

9. (SBU) If there is an A.U. consensus to send troops,
Chicoty said, Angola might participate in the command
structure of a peacekeeping force in Somalia. He continued
that this work is important, but stressed that Angola wants
good intelligence before it sends in any troops. Now that
Angola has been elected to the A.U. Peace and Security
Council, it has a responsibility to uphold, he continued.
Chicoty then reiterated reasons he had given previously for
Angolan reluctance to take on peacekeeping missions: concern
that rules of engagement might not be clear and robust and
Angolan troops could find themselves facing international
charges of human rights violations. Ambassador Efird
proposed that if Angola decides to contribute troops to a
peacekeeping force but finds itself short of equipment or
supplies to conduct a peacekeeping mission, that it approach
the United States. Without promising assistance, she assured
Chicoty that Angolan requests would get a hearing.


10. (SBU) Comment. Chicoty sees a definite advantage to
Angola from a TIFA, however, his sidebar with his Americas
Office Director suggests that the GRA bureaucracy is moving
forward slowly and certainly on this agreement. We
understand from the Ministry of Commerce and Trade that an
interagency group has yet to jointly review the TIFA text.
The Angolan political is definitely in place to sign the TIFA
but we will continue to &hand-hold8 the Angolan bureaucracy
during the drafting process. The new Angolan willingness to
consider sending its troops on peacekeeping missions seems to
go with an enhanced sense of responsibility since joining the
A.U. Peace and Security Council and assuming the Vice
Chairmanship.



11. (U) DAS Thompson has cleared this cable.
EFIRD