PITCHING ANGOLA ON THE SADC SUMMIT

UNCLAS LUANDA 000296 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AO ZI SUBJECT: PITCHING ANGOLA ON THE SADC SUMMIT REF: LUANDA 285 ¶1. (SBU) During an April 11 telephone call to Foreign Minister Joao Miranda, Ambassador Mozena expressed U.S. support for the SADC initiative in regard to the Zimbabwe situation, which President Dos Santos, as Chair of the SADC Organ for Politics, Defense, and Security, helped President Mwanawassa launch. The Ambassador told Miranda that SADC can play a vital and constructive role to ensure that the will of the Zimbabwe people, who voted almost two weeks ago, is realized. The Ambassador said the international community is looking to the region and watching how SADC leaders respond in defense of democracy. The Ambassador added that the U.S. hoped violence can be avoided in Zimbabwe. ¶2. (SBU) Miranda took the points on board and said he would convey them to the President. He said he and the President would depart either today or tomorrow morning for Lusaka, leaving on Sunday. Miranda said he would reach out to the Ambassador the week of his return from New York, where he will participate in a meeting of the UN Security Council on African issues, called by the South Africans in their role as Chair of the UNSC. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: The GRA is playing its cards close to its vest. Urgent, but quiet diplomacy is ongoing in the region, but the media here has been silent on Angola's role at the SADC meeting... and Miranda wasn't tipping his hand to the Ambassador. Angola's action (or inaction) at the SADC summit will reveal much about the depth of Angola's commitment to democracy. MOZENA