AU SUMMIT -- AF ACTING A/S CARTER MEETS WITH EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000356

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/SPG, AF/W, AF/S, AF/E, AND
IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU XA AU
SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT -- AF ACTING A/S CARTER MEETS WITH EU
DIRECTOR GENERAL

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: AF Acting Assistant Secretary Phillip
Carter, joined by Acting USAID Assistant Administrator for
Africa Earl Gast, met with European Commission Director
General for Development Stefano Manservisi on February 1 on
the margins of the African Union Summit. Carter sought EU
support for police training under Security Sector Reform
(SSR). Carter also urged the EU to align itself more with
the USG on Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mauritania, Guinea, and
Senegal policies. End Summary.


2. (C) Manservisi asked what the EU could expect from the
new Administration. Carter said the international community
can expect increased engagement from the new Administration,
particularly in global issues such as climate change, food
security, and nuclear non-proliferation. There will be
significant areas where there will be broad consistency with
the prior Administration,s positions on Africa, but a policy
review is underway, which will seek to increase the
effectiveness of our development efforts. The USG will also
seek ways to work better with the EU and others, on jointly
achieving our development goals.


3. (C) Carter noted the United States is prevented from
offering all but very limited police training under SSR due
to legal constraints. The USG is seeking support from
partners to provide this training while the United States
focuses on military training. A common strategy to determine
SSR needs and coordinate contributions from donors would
optimize both spending and effectiveness. Manservisi
concurred, but expressed concern that on the development
side, while the United States and the EU are working
together, the actual collaboration could be tighter. Carter
added that productive partner relationships should include
countries such as China, India, and Russia.


4. (C) On Sudan, Manservisi expressed deep concern on the
part of the EU, and acknowledged that the issues are
extremely complex. He appeared not to be aware of the
fragile security situation in the South Sudan town of
Muhajeriya, or the imminent bombing threat by the Government
of Sudan. On Somalia, Manservisi noted the good news in
terms of the election of an expanded parliament, election of
a new President, the standing-up of the Joint (TFG/ARS)
Security Forces, and increasing support for AMISOM. Carter
pushed to find out what the EU could do to support a police
force in Somalia, and said Somalia cannot expect any influx
of aid without better accountability. Gast said the USG has
$15 million in FY 2009 funds to assist Somalia. Carter added
that Somalis need critical institutions such as an attorney
general, a Central Bank, and other institutions before
development aid flows in a big way.


5. (C) On Zimbabwe, Manservisi said the EU cannot engage
with Mugabe. Carter explained that the United States is
looking for concrete measures from the government to gauge
success or failure, and would continue to provide
humanitarian assistance but would hold up further assistance
until it sees positive results. He said the USG will not
provide support for Mugabe,s "cronies." Both sides agreed
that the situation is very fragile and could fall apart.


6. (C) On Mauritania, Manservisi advised that the EU
provides soft support for an election to help build a
democracy. Carter stressed the need for the EU to remain
tough and adopt sanctions, placing additional pressure on
junta leader General Aziz to force him to step aside. The
imprisonment of President Abdallahi,s Prime Minister and
other supporters is unacceptable. Carter said the EU is
softening on General Aziz and implored Manservisi to ensure
the EU holds the line. Manservisi advised that the EU will
try to remain tough, but the United States should not forget
the EU is comprised of many countries and it takes time to
build consensus. Carter said it is important for the EU to
mirror the AU position vis-a-vis Mauritania, as the AU looks
to the EU as a model government entity. On Guinea, Carter
said the country needs to reinstitute national assembly
elections and restore the constitution. Guinea is a
collapsing fiefdom with enormous drug trafficking problems.
It is on the verge of imploding, and the rest of the country

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has no connection to the capital. Regarding Senegal, Carter
noted the weakening of democracy. President Wade is
"knocking out" the pillars of democracy to pave the way for
his son to succeed him. The United States intends to be more
cautious about spending development funds in Senegal because
of the lack of transparency and corruption.


7. (C) At the conclusion of the meeting, the EC's Director
for General Affairs advised that AFRICOM had approached his
office about working more closely together. There were no
specific details on follow-up action, but the EC official
wanted the USG to know that the Europeans will be glad to
cooperate. Carter informed him that the Department,s Africa
Bureau would be happy to field EU requests for coordination
and cooperation with the USG on Africa.


8. (U) Acting A/S Carter approved this message.
YAMAMOTO