Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MAPUTO220
2008-03-12 12:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:  

FM AGREES TO BILATERAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE, AND TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL ECON ETRD KHUM EAID MZ ZI KPKO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2660
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0220/01 0721236
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121236Z MAR 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8649
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0128
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000220 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD KHUM EAID MZ ZI KPKO
SUBJECT: FM AGREES TO BILATERAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE, AND TO
DISCUSS AN ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

REF: MAPUTO 172

Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Matthew P.Roth, Reasons 1.4(b)&(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000220

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD KHUM EAID MZ ZI KPKO
SUBJECT: FM AGREES TO BILATERAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE, AND TO
DISCUSS AN ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

REF: MAPUTO 172

Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Matthew P.Roth, Reasons 1.4(b)&(d)


1. (U) Note: This report was written February 26 but final
transmission was delayed. While FM Abreu was dismissed from
her duties on March 10, this conversation and the issues
discussed will serve as a basis for our first meeting with
the new Foreign Minister. End Note.


2. (U) Summary: In a meeting with the Charge, Foreign
Minister Alcinda Abreu agreed to begin a formal bilateral
political dialogue. She also expressed interest in a
bilateral agreement encompassing all USG assistance, and
spoke on possible Mozambican participation in peacekeeping
operations and on the political situations in Zimbabwe and
Kenya. We will begin crafting an agenda for a political
dialogue and have USG lawyers work with the MFA on an
agreement encompassing all USG assistance. End Summary.

--------------
Relationship at an All-Time High
--------------


3. (U) The Charge d'Affaires, USAID Director, and P/E Chief
met with Mozambican Foreign Minister Alcinda de Abreu on
February 21. The Charge opened the meeting by highlighting
Mozambique,s growing profile in Washington as U.S.
assistance to the country has increased, mentioning
specifically the successful visits of Health and Human
Services (HHS) Secretary Leavitt and high-level Department of
Defense officials. He added that State's AF Deputy Assistant
Secretary Carol Thompson would visit Mozambique March 2-3.

SIPDIS
Noting that President Armando Guebuza visited the United
States more than any other country, the FM said
U.S.-Mozambican relations were at an all-time high.

-------------- -
Agreement to Start a Formal Political Dialogue
-------------- -


4. (U) Suggesting that the heightened profile presented an
opportunity to develop a formal political bilateral dialogue,

the Charge proposed meeting every six months to address
bilateral issues. The Charge commented that he had raised
this idea with the Mozambican Ambassador to the United States
who agreed that it had merit. The Charge indicated such a
dialogue could include global issues such as the United
Nations, Kosovo, human rights, as well as regional issues
such as strengthening the capacity of SADC, moving forward on
regional economic integration, Kenya, and democracy.


5. (U) The FM agreed, saying that the GRM has similar
dialogues with other countries, including one with the
European Union which began in 2005. She suggested that,
given the interest in AFRICOM, for example, such a venue
could be useful to discuss military interests as well. She
demurred on Kosovo, however, (reftel),noting that Mozambique
traditionally avoids getting involved in this type of
controversial issue. On Kenya, the FM said the GRM was very
concerned with how the tribal issues were playing out and
expressed her personal relief that Mozambican eminence grise
Graca Machel was now involved.

--------------
PKOs and Zimbabwe: An Alternate Reality
--------------


6. (U) Noting the USG's increasing concerns over Zimbabwe,
the Charge queried the FM on how she viewed Zimbabwe's
future. The FM responded that she felt the South African-led
resolution process was seemingly successful, as Zimbabwe
would soon hold elections that would be observed by Angolan
experts.


7. (SBU) The Charge suggested that some USG training for
Mozambique's armed forces (FADM) might dwindle as the GRM had
yet to commit to substantial peacekeeping operations (PKOs),
and asked when the GRM would begin to participate in PKOs in
the region. The FM said she believed that the GRM was
actively involved in these missions as observers, listing
Mozambican participation in places like East Timor, Sudan,
and the FADM's participation in a SADC stand-by force. That
said, she felt that it would be politically untenable for the
GRM to send forces to ongoing war zones, as Mozambicans are
still suffering from the trauma of their civil war.

--------------
Discussing a Bilateral Assistance Framework
--------------


MAPUTO 00000220 002 OF 002



8. (U) The USAID Director highlighted the increased USG
assistance to Mozambique and noted the increase in the number
of USG staff and contractors involved in implementation. In
light of these twin factors, he urged the FM to consider
moving forward on a bilateral assistance agreement to cover
all the USG's programs in Mozambique, ranging from issues of
licensing, to taxes and visa issues. The FM agreed, and
suggested that USAID lawyers begin the process by meeting
with the MFA's legal department.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) The FM seemed far removed from reality on some key
issues. Her statements at the meeting did nothing to dispel
rumors that she is not particularly influential within
FRELIMO circles nor gainsay criticisms heard from other
diplomatic missions that she is managing both her portfolio
and Ministry poorly. She did, however, agree to a formal
bilateral dialogue and was clearly willing to discuss further
ways to negotiate a bilateral agreement for USG assistance
programs. To follow up on Abreu's commitment, we will begin
immediately to work with GRM officials to identify concrete
agenda items for a dialogue and with the MFA's juridical
affairs group to identify the next steps to a bilateral
agreement on assistance. END COMMENT.
Chapman