Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON1823
2008-07-09 16:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:
ZIMBABWE: UK OPTIMISTIC ON UNSC RESOLUTION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHLO #1823 1911604 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091604Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9159 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE IMMEDIATE 0166 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1219
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001823
SIPDIS
DEPART FOR IO/JEAN CLARK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC ZI UK
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: UK OPTIMISTIC ON UNSC RESOLUTION
REF: SECSTATE 73173
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001823
SIPDIS
DEPART FOR IO/JEAN CLARK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC ZI UK
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: UK OPTIMISTIC ON UNSC RESOLUTION
REF: SECSTATE 73173
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Per reftel, the Charge spoke on July 9 with FCO Minister for Africa Lord Malloch-Brown, who was optimistic there would be sufficient votes to pass the current UNSC draft resolution on Zimbabwe. Malloch-Brown suggested progress had been made with Moscow and Beijing in New York and at the G-8 Summit in Japan. In his view, China will likely do the right thing because it does not want another human rights fight on its hands before the Olympics. Russia, however, was more problematic. President Medevev agreed to the G-8 Summit statement that implied sanctions, but seemed to walk back from that in statements he made today. FCO Zimbabwe Desk Ben Llewellyn-Jones told us that the PM,s Foreign Policy Advisor, Simon MacDonald, called his Russian counterpart to lobby in favor of the resolution, but did not receive any assurances. When directly asked, the Russians did not say if they would veto. Given the current frosty UK-Russia relations, Malloch-Brown said USG engagement with the Russians might be more effective. He also questioned if Moscow would really want to use its veto on this issue.
2. (C) Malloch-Brown said Ouagadougou is "on our side" from what the UK Embassy in Burkina Faso is reporting, but that the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister's visit will test the depth of that commitment. On Libya, Malloch-Brown said that UK Foreign Secretary Miliband had telephoned the Libyan Foreign Minister, who was ambiguous but promised to be as supportive as possible. Visit London's Classified Website:XXXXXXXXXXXX LeBaron
SIPDIS
DEPART FOR IO/JEAN CLARK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC ZI UK
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: UK OPTIMISTIC ON UNSC RESOLUTION
REF: SECSTATE 73173
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Per reftel, the Charge spoke on July 9 with FCO Minister for Africa Lord Malloch-Brown, who was optimistic there would be sufficient votes to pass the current UNSC draft resolution on Zimbabwe. Malloch-Brown suggested progress had been made with Moscow and Beijing in New York and at the G-8 Summit in Japan. In his view, China will likely do the right thing because it does not want another human rights fight on its hands before the Olympics. Russia, however, was more problematic. President Medevev agreed to the G-8 Summit statement that implied sanctions, but seemed to walk back from that in statements he made today. FCO Zimbabwe Desk Ben Llewellyn-Jones told us that the PM,s Foreign Policy Advisor, Simon MacDonald, called his Russian counterpart to lobby in favor of the resolution, but did not receive any assurances. When directly asked, the Russians did not say if they would veto. Given the current frosty UK-Russia relations, Malloch-Brown said USG engagement with the Russians might be more effective. He also questioned if Moscow would really want to use its veto on this issue.
2. (C) Malloch-Brown said Ouagadougou is "on our side" from what the UK Embassy in Burkina Faso is reporting, but that the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister's visit will test the depth of that commitment. On Libya, Malloch-Brown said that UK Foreign Secretary Miliband had telephoned the Libyan Foreign Minister, who was ambiguous but promised to be as supportive as possible. Visit London's Classified Website:XXXXXXXXXXXX LeBaron