ZIMBABWE DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GOR FAVORS HANDS OFF

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 001200 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018 TAGS: KDEM PHUM PINS PREL SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GOR FAVORS HANDS OFF APPROACH REF: A. STATE 44905 ¶B. STATE 41930 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Alice G. Wells For Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The MFA told us Russia's "usual position" of noninterference in the internal matters of sovereign states applied in the case of Zimbabwe and that only the South African Development Community could legitimately engage on the results of the recent elections. MFA officials said the GOR was taking a "wait and see" approach before deciding what to do next, noting that the Russian Embassy in Harare had not reported widespread human rights abuses during the election. The MFA expressed hope that the situation will calm down soon, as Russian companies were eager to do business in Zimbabwe. End Summary. -------------- Hands Off Zimbabwe -------------- ¶2. (C) We delivered ref A demarche on April 29 to MFA Senior Counselor for International Organizations Petr Ilichev. Ilichev reiterated that the GOR considered the current political crisis in Zimbabwe a regional matter better handled within Africa than at the UNSC. He argued that before the U.S. calls for a formal UNSC meeting on Zimbabwe it would be best to hear what the South Africans report during today's informal UNSC consultations on their attempt to use "quiet diplomacy" to settle the crisis. ¶3. (C) Head of the MFA Zimbabwe Desk Andrey Stolyarov agreed, telling us that the people of Zimbabwe must resolve the political crisis themselves. According to Stolyarov, neither the UN Security Council, the G8, nor any other international organization except the South African Development Community should concern itself with Zimbabwe's election results (ref B). According to Stolyarov, Russia's stance is in keeping with the GOR's general dislike of intervening in the internal matters of other states. ¶4. (C) Stolyarov told us that it is too early to tell what steps should be taken next. He argued a "wait and see" approach was best because the results of the Presidential elections have not been released, and he cautioned against applying international pressure while the votes were still being counted. Stolyarov said Russian diplomats were accredited election monitors during the elections, and despite opposition claims of victory, a second round election may be necessary. In the meantime, the GOR is prepared to send humanitarian aid. -------------- Human Rights Not A Concern -------------- ¶5. (C) Stolyarov maintained that there were too many conflicting reports to conclude definitively that human rights abuses were widespread during the elections. According to Stolyarov, the Russian Embassy in Harare has not sent any reports confirming allegations of human rights abuses. When asked about the recent arms shipment destined for Zimbabwe that was forced to return to China, Stolyarov said the transaction was a bilateral issue between China and Zimbabwe. He also pointed out China and Zimbabwe signed the contract for the shipment a year ago. He did, however, acknowledge the timing of the shipment was especially bad. -------------- Unrest Bad For Business -------------- ¶6. (C) Stolyarov expressed the GOR's hope for a quick resolution to the current election crisis because "the current state of affairs is bad for Russian businesses." He said that, while Russia and Zimbabwe do not conduct much business, there were fruit importers, mining companies, agricultural companies, and others that were eager to invest in a peaceful, stable Zimbabwe. Regardless of the outcome of the elections, Stolyarov said, the GOR will continue to work with the GOZ. RUSSELL