Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MASERU168
2007-03-20 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:
LESOTHO: ZIMBABWE DEMARCHE DELIVERED
how-toVZCZCXRO0331 OO RUEHRN DE RUEHMR #0168 0791557 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O P 201557Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MASERU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2783 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3134
C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000168
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR AF/S - STEVE HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM ZI LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ZIMBABWE DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 34008 AND PREVIOUS
CLASSIFIED BY: June Carter Perry, Ambassador, EXEC , STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000168
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR AF/S - STEVE HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM ZI LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ZIMBABWE DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 34008 AND PREVIOUS
CLASSIFIED BY: June Carter Perry, Ambassador, EXEC , STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel points to Acting Foreign
Minister Dr. Phooko March 20 and reviewed with him the
Secretary's statement as well as the spokesman's remarks on the
SIPDIS
issue. We also went through key points related to the treatment
of the opposition by the Mugabe government, the abuse of human
rights and the need for Lesotho and other members of the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) to issue a public
statement as well as to act on the matter as expeditiously as
possible. The Minister responded that this was an issue that
the Government of Lesotho was aware of and that it remained
under discussion at this point. He alluded to the fact that the
SADC Council of Ministers was to begin March 21 in Maseru and
that would cast additional light on Lesotho in its role as SADC
Chair. Minister Phooko, currently the Minister in the Prime
Minister's Office, said that because of issues related to a
current strike in Lesotho, the Cabinet had been very much
occupied with trying to handle the economic and security aspects
over the the past few days, and therefore had not had the
opportunity to address the Zimbabwe issue in-depth at this
point. He did commit the government to further in-depth
discussion where specific actions would be reviewed. Post will
provide these as soon as possible, likely after the current
domestic political crisis is resolved.
PERRY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR AF/S - STEVE HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM ZI LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ZIMBABWE DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 34008 AND PREVIOUS
CLASSIFIED BY: June Carter Perry, Ambassador, EXEC , STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel points to Acting Foreign
Minister Dr. Phooko March 20 and reviewed with him the
Secretary's statement as well as the spokesman's remarks on the
SIPDIS
issue. We also went through key points related to the treatment
of the opposition by the Mugabe government, the abuse of human
rights and the need for Lesotho and other members of the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) to issue a public
statement as well as to act on the matter as expeditiously as
possible. The Minister responded that this was an issue that
the Government of Lesotho was aware of and that it remained
under discussion at this point. He alluded to the fact that the
SADC Council of Ministers was to begin March 21 in Maseru and
that would cast additional light on Lesotho in its role as SADC
Chair. Minister Phooko, currently the Minister in the Prime
Minister's Office, said that because of issues related to a
current strike in Lesotho, the Cabinet had been very much
occupied with trying to handle the economic and security aspects
over the the past few days, and therefore had not had the
opportunity to address the Zimbabwe issue in-depth at this
point. He did commit the government to further in-depth
discussion where specific actions would be reviewed. Post will
provide these as soon as possible, likely after the current
domestic political crisis is resolved.
PERRY