MEYER ON IRAQ, KOSOVO, COLOMBIA, AND BASQUE PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 004248

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2017
TAGS: PREL KDEM PINR IZ YI CO SP SF
SUBJECT: MEYER ON IRAQ, KOSOVO, COLOMBIA, AND BASQUE PEACE
INITIATIVES

REF: A. PRETORIA 3277

B. HELSINKI 0675

C. BELFAST 0215

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Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Former South African Government (SAG)
minister and conflict resolution expert Roelf Meyer updated
A/PolCounselor and PolOff December 20 on his various
international peace initiatives and gave his views on the
recent ANC election (septel). Meyer will participate in the
second meeting of Iraqi political parties scheduled to take
place in February 2008, likely in Helsinki at the CMI
offices. He continues to advise Kosovo authorities on a
draft constitution, and believes Kosovo will declare
independence in 2008 following the Serb elections. In
Colombia, Meyer advised President Uribe in early December to
forego foreign mediation of the hostage crisis and instead
focus on developing a broader peace strategy. Finally, in
the Basque country, Meyer is involved in a Network of
European Foundations peace initiative and believes the recent
arrests of Basque activists have attracted Basque youth to
the separatist cause. Meyer is open to USG input on these
peace initiatives. END SUMMARY.

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Follow-up Iraq Peace Meeting Planned for February
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2. (C) Padraig O'Malley, organizer of the August 31 -
September 3, 2007 meeting of Iraqi political parties in
Helsinki (reftels),told Meyer he is organizing another Iraq
peace meeting in February 2008, likely at the Crisis
Management Initiative (CMI) offices in Finland. Recently
returned from Baghdad, O'Malley reports that there is
agreement on the usefulness of continuing with the
initiative, and interest in including a "broader" group of
participants. Meyer was unsure whether this means inclusion
of additional parties, like the Kurds or militias, or of
higher-level officials from the same parties. Meyer plans to
participate in the February meeting.

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Assisting Kosovo Constitution-Drafting
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3. (C) On a trip funded by the Rockefeller Brothers
Foundation, Meyer traveled to Kosovo in October to meet with
local officials and provide advice on drafting a new
constitution. He understands that a draft constitution is
complete and includes strong protections for minority rights,
but he has not seen the current draft. Meyer also met with
the Kosovo's President and Deputy Prime Minister, both of
whom he found "moderate" and "reasonable." Meyer understands
that Kosovo will likely wait until after the Serb elections
to declare independence. The Kosovo leadership told him they
believe the United States and most of Europe will support
their declaration, including Germany, although Spain and
Greece may support Serbia. Neither the Kosovars nor the
Serbs are inclined toward violence, Meyer believes, although
he admitted that he does not have a good feel for the
Qhe admitted that he does not have a good feel for the
sentiments of the border communities. Meyer briefed the
South African Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on his
trip, but did not have any update on the SAG position on
Kosovo.

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Providing Advice to Colombian President Uribe
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4. (C) Meyer was also invited to advise informally Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe, whom he met twice on December 4 and 5
in Bogota, on the ongoing hostage crisis. Meyer urged Uribe

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to develop a broader peace strategy, instead of focusing on
the hostages. (NOTE: Meyer had earlier given a lecture in
Cali at an event sponsored by a local non-governmental
organization, in which he recommended against foreign
mediation of the ongoing hostage crisis. Meyer suspected
that Uribe heard of his remarks, and thus invited him back to
Bogota. END NOTE.) Meyer found Uribe intelligent and
engaging, and open to his advice.

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Involved in NEC Initiative in Basque Region
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5. (C) In the Basque region of Spain, Meyer is part of a
Network of European Foundations (NEF) initiative, funded by
the Joseph Roundtree Charitable Trust, to promote peace and
reconciliation. The other three experts involved with the
NEF initiative are South African human rights lawyer Brian
Currin, former INTERPOL head Raymond Kendall, and former
Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Nuala O'Lean. Meyer
said he was originally skeptical about Basque grievances but
has come to believe the Basque people have a legitimate right
to express their views democratically on independence,
although he personally opposes succession. In Meyer's view,
the recent Spanish government arrests of Basque political
activists have created unnecessary resentment in the Basque
region and led to the increasing radicalization of Basque
youth.


6. (C) The four experts involved in the NEF initiative have
not been able to secure meetings in Madrid, Meyer said. The
Spanish government is reluctant to meet with them, Meyer
believes, since it might appear that they are "mediating" the
Basque political situation. Meyer speculated that Madrid
might be more open to the NEF initiative following national
elections in 2008.

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Comment
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7. (C) A long-time Embassy contact and well-respected South
African politician, Meyer played a key role in South Africa's
transition to democracy. In his role as advisor on conflict
resolution, Meyer has been involved in numerous peace
initiatives, including in Northern Ireland, Burundi, and
Bolivia, as well as his ongoing involvement in Sri Lanka.
Meyer is open to further discussions with U.S. officials on
his activities, and seemed particularly interested in U.S.
views on the ongoing Colombian hostage crisis. Post is
prepared to pass on suggestions or background papers to Meyer
if deemed useful.
BOST