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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000357

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/S, AF/C, AND AF/SPG

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

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 2, AF Acting Assistant
Secretary Phillip Carter met South African Foreign Minister
Dlamini Dlamini-zuma on the margins of the African Union
Summit. Their discussion focused primarily on the situation
in Zimbabwe and touched on Sudan and Congo. Dlamini-zuma
made two requests -- that the United States send
representation to the Conference Against Racism in Geneva in
April, and that the United States support South Africa's
candidate for the International Atomic Energy Association
(IAEA). She did not raise and did not engage on the question
of the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of
Sudan's President Bashir. END SUMMARY.

ZIMBABWE


2. (C) Dlamini-zuma told Carter that South Africa is
extremely worried about the economic and political situation
in Zimbabwe, as the humanitarian and health crises directly
impact her country and the rest of the Southern African
neighborhood. She said South Africa is encouraged by the
prospects of the formation of a ZANU-PF/MDC unity government,
despite the serious challenges it faces. She expressed hope
that the United States and rest of the international
community would intervene to address the humanitarian crisis
once the unity government is formed. In response, Carter
noted that the devil is in the details, as the ZANU-PF/MDC
seek common ground in forging a unity government. He
emphasized the United States does not oppose the deal and
will make this clear publicly, but remains skeptical about
Mugabe,s good faith in fully implementing it. Carter urged
SADC to remain vigilant and to continue to encourage open
dialogue in their role as guarantors under the agreement. He
stressed that the collapse of Zimbabwe's infrastructure
requires immediate and long-term attention to facilitate the
emergency delivery of humanitarian and health care
assistance, and to create conditions for future development
that, in time, will encourage the return of citizens who have
fled the descent into chaos.

SUDAN


3. (C) Dlamini-zuma asked for U.S. perspectives on the
situation in Sudan, and said South Africa is concerned about
the looming deadlines established in the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA),the ability to meet them, and the
interlocking issues of development and security. She said
the more the African Union engages in Sudan, the better.
Carter said the U.S. focus is on securing a broad-based peace
agreement for Darfur, ensuring the unfettered deployment of
the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),
providing humanitarian access in Darfur and implementing the
CPA between North and South. The United States does not view
the likely ICC indictment of Sudanese President Bashir as
interfering with these goals, and expects others, including
the Government of Sudan and other parties on the ground,
including Darfur rebel groups, to exercise restraint and
focus on working towards the same goals, whatever the ICC
announcement may bring.

CONGO


4. (C) On the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Dlamini-zuma indicated that South African defense personnel
are in the process of sorting out impediments to her
country's contribution of troops to MONUC.

CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM


5. (C) Dlamini-zuma made a plea for U.S. participation in
the upcoming April 21-25 Conference On Racism in Geneva,
arguing that this meeting, in contrast to previous ones, is
slated to be a review of the Durban Declaration and Program
of Action. Thus, new issues would not be raised. She
advocated U.S. attendance as a means of opening channels of
communication and understanding, and suggested that the new
Obama Administration carried hope and promise for engagement.
She concluded saying she believed that if the United States
attended other attendees would not be combative. Carter said
the United States would look into the question. Note: The
U.S. walked out of the 2001 Durban World Conference on Racism
over disagreement of the inclusion of slave reparation

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language, new human rights legal instrument language and
anti-Semitic rhetoric that unfolded during the conference.
End note.

IAEA


6. (C) Dlamini-zuma reported that South Africa is fielding
a candidate for the IAEA, as is Japan. She asked for U.S.
support, or, failing that, U.S. neutrality in not opposing
South Africa's candidate. Carter emphasized that the United
States has made no decision regarding candidates. He further
stressed the United States normally chooses to back a
candidate on the basis of merit, but does not engage in
negative campaigning about other candidates. He agreed to
take the issue under advisement.


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