LESOTHO: AMBASSADOR NOLAN PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO KING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000563 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S; E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID KHIV KMCA LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO: AMBASSADOR NOLAN PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO KING LETSIE III MASERU 00000563 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 10, Ambassador Robert B. Nolan presented his credentials to Lesotho's King Letsie III at the Royal Palace in Maseru. During their private conversation following the presentation, the King emphasized the excellent state of U.S.-Lesotho bilateral relations following the July signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact, the continuing importance of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to Lesotho's economy, and the need to cooperate in confronting the scourge of HIV/AIDS. While addressing many of the same themes, Lesotho's acting Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the U.S.'s continuing presence in Lesotho -- thus emphasizing the importance of the "universality" of a U.S. presence in Africa. In sum, October 10, 2007 was a day to celebrate the flourishing U.S.-Lesotho relationship and to commit to further cooperation and strengthening of bilateral ties. END SUMMARY. -------------- Credentialing in Lesotho: The Mechanics -------------- ¶2. (U) On October 10, Ambassador Nolan, accompanied by the DCM and pol/econ officer, undertook a series of clockwork events, expertly orchestrated by Lesotho's MFA, as part of his presentation of credentials to Lesotho's Head of State, King Letsie III. Following courtesy calls on Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs Julius Metsing and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa, Ambassador Nolan proceeded to the Royal Palace under official escort. At the Palace, he read a brief statement, handed his credentials to King Letsie III, and listened to the King's response. Afterwards, he held a 15-minute private conversation with the King, attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Tsekoa. After an elegant ceremony at which Ambassador Nolan reviewed a Lesotho Defense Force honor guard, he proceeded to a courtesy call with the acting Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Archibald Lehohla. -------------- A Conversation with the King -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Remarking that the U.S.-Lesotho bilateral relationship is flourishing, Ambassador Nolan congratulated King Letsie III for Lesotho's effective international role on free trade, global health, and efforts to thwart international crime and terrorism. The Ambassador noted the keystone programs of this relationship, such as the $362.5 million Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, 40 years of Peace Corps presence in Lesotho, the PEPFAR program, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and recently renewed military-to-military cooperation. In his official remarks, King Letsie III specifically thanked the Ambassador for the past and future contributions of Peace Corps and the Millennium Challenge Corporation to Lesotho's development. He noted that the extension of AGOA until 2015 will allow Lesotho time to further diversify its economy. Echoing the Ambassador's sentiments on the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS, he stated that Lesotho was "encouraged and emboldened" to note that Lesotho is not on its own in trying to halt the epidemic, but has the support of friendly nations such as the United States. In their private conversation, a very relaxed and cordial King Letsie reiterated these themes. Ambassador Nolan shared his commitment to pursuing bilateral objectives, as well as his personal impressions of a recent trip to the central highlands of Lesotho where he visited Peace Corps volunteers and a Catholic mission providing local health care, support for HIV/AIDS patients, education, and outreach to at-risk Basotho herd boys. -------------- DPM: You are a Dependable Ally -------------- ¶4. (SBU) During the Ambassador's courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister Lehohla (in the latter's capacity as acting Prime Minister),the DPM emphasized the excellent state of U.S.-Lesotho bilateral relations, singling out U.S. assistance in the education and governance spheres as particularly helpful. Calling the United States a "dependable ally," he expressed his desire to expand educational ties between the two nations. Citing land degradation in the lowlands as an area of particular concern, he noted his hope that MCC funding could be used to address the issue. The Deputy Prime Minister spoke passionately and positively about the continued United States presence in Lesotho, contrasting it to the painful blow in 2005 of the United Kingdom's closure of its diplomatic mission in Maseru. -------------- MFA: U.S. Support is Vital MASERU 00000563 002.2 OF 002 -------------- ¶5. (SBU) During separate consultations with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa and Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs Julius Metsing, both men assessed the state of the bilateral relationship to be excellent. Minister Tsekoa recounted Lesotho's political turbulence following the February 2007 national election and pointed to the USG-funded support of the National Democratic Institute as vital. Both men praised the work of American NGOs in Lesotho, singling out the contributions of the Clinton Foundation in the health sphere. Principal Secretary Metsing noted that while Lesotho and the United States have similar views on many international issues, he allowed that Lesotho could not always vote with the United States due to its obligations to regional and thematic organizations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). -------------- A Feel Good Universality -------------- ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: In sum, October 10, 2007 was a day to celebrate the flourishing U.S.-Lesotho relationship and to commit to further cooperation and strengthening of bilateral ties. Ambassador Nolan's first encounters have initiated an excellent rapport with his Basotho interlocutors, including initial calls on the Ministers of Finance and Health following the presentation of credentials to discuss MCC and PEPFAR issues. Judging from the Prime Minister's comments on the painfulness of the British diplomatic withdrawal from Lesotho, the continued presence of the U.S. Mission in Maseru is extremely important to the GOL and the Basotho people -- which is a strong argument for the continuation of a "universality" USG policy for a U.S. presence on the continent. END COMMENT. NOLAN