Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MASERU211
2007-04-04 15:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:  

HCOC: LESOTHO'S RESPONSE

Tags:  PARM PREL ETTC MTCRE KSCA LT 
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VZCZCXRO4656
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0211 0941540
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 041540Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2856
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0075
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3209
UNCLAS MASERU 000211 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR ISN/MTR - JOHN PAUL HERMANN; AF/S - DAN MOZENA AND LINDA
MUNCY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MTCRE KSCA LT
SUBJECT: HCOC: LESOTHO'S RESPONSE

REF: (A) STATE 42280 (B) 06 MASERU 198

This is an action message. See para. 2.

UNCLAS MASERU 000211

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR ISN/MTR - JOHN PAUL HERMANN; AF/S - DAN MOZENA AND LINDA
MUNCY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MTCRE KSCA LT
SUBJECT: HCOC: LESOTHO'S RESPONSE

REF: (A) STATE 42280 (B) 06 MASERU 198

This is an action message. See para. 2.


1. (SBU) Ambassador delivered reftel talking points concerning
the Hague Code of Conduct (HCOC) on Missile Non-Proliferation to
Lesotho's new Minister of Foreign Affairs Kenneth Tsekoa on
April 4, although they had been delivered as previously noted in
Ref (B). Tsekoa found the specific example of how the note
verbale should be delivered very useful. He did say that in
terms of the content of the message, he did not see a problem.
However, he asked the Acting Principal Secretary to have the
legal division within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs review the
HCOC and make a recommendation to him after their review. The
Ambassador explained that this issue had been brought to the
attention of Tsekoa's predecessor (Monyane Moleleki) in April
2006, and it was our understanding that there was not any
inherent objection from the Government of Lesotho to the content
of the Code of Conduct. But there had never been the
appropriate follow up, either from Moleleki nor from any of
their representatives in Europe to our knowledge. Tsekoa, in
reviewing the 126 countries that support the principles of the
Missile Technology Control Regime, noted that a number of
countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
region were already adherents to the Hague Code of Conduct
(HCOC) and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). We
discussed the fact that Lesotho is not a ballistic missile
country and, therefore, the Government of Lesotho (GOL),in
subscribing to the HCOC, would not require actions specific to
some other countries. In fact, it would not impose financial
burden on the country. Post will follow up with the new Foreign
Minister in the near future to ascertain whether or not he has
received a response from his legal division.


2. (SBU) Comment: Post recognizes that the current Minister
of Foreign Affairs is taking over a portfolio that has
substantially changed since he previously served in that
position. At the same time, the lack of follow-up by the
previous Foreign Minister is disappointing since Lesotho has
generally been a supporter of international conventions and
policies concerning peace and security. Simultaneously, while
following up here, we request that the USUN delegation engage
Lesotho's Permanent Representative, Fine Maema, also on this
issue. Since his March 2 swearing-in, Tsekoa has responded, in
at least one case, within 24 hours to our request and we
certainly hope that his response on the HCOC position will be
prompt as well. Although the timing cannot be predicted, we
have found that Tsekoa has attempted to be responsive despite
the past election disturbances by the opposition and despite the
demands placed on him as Foreign Minister in dealing with SADC
on both the situation in Lesotho and Zimbabwe. We will keep
Department informed on this request. End Comment.

PERRY