Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09GABORONE209
2009-03-18 08:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Gaborone
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON SADC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Tags:  PREL MASS ETRD EAID ZI BC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2527
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHOR #0209/01 0770846
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 180846Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5646
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 GABORONE 000209 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS USAID
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR WJACKSON
PRETORIA FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MASS ETRD EAID ZI BC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON SADC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
SALOMAO

REF: A. STATE 7798

B. STATE 18852

C. STATE 18601

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 GABORONE 000209

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS USAID
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR WJACKSON
PRETORIA FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MASS ETRD EAID ZI BC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON SADC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
SALOMAO

REF: A. STATE 7798

B. STATE 18852

C. STATE 18601


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador Nolan had his first office
call with Dr. Tomaz Salomao, the Executive Secretary of the
Southern African Development Community (SADC),at SADC
headquarters in Gaborone March 13. The Ambassador presented
the letter designating him as the Secretary's Special
Representative to SADC and expressed the U.S. government's
desire to work closely with the regional community on both
development and peace and security. Salomao praised the work
of the USAID-funded Southern African Competitiveness Hub
(Trade Hub),and was especially pleased with the assistance
SADC had received from the Hub in preparing for the launch of
the community's Free Trade Area (FTA). The Ambassador and ES
Salomao discussed the January 2009 Presidential Determination
regarding U.S. defense cooperation with SADC, reviewed recent
events in Zimbabwe, and discussed a possible multi-sector
assistance agreement between USAID and SADC that would cover
USAID's regional activities which could include economic
growth, agriculture, and HIV/AIDS. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Ambassador Nolan met with Dr. Tomaz Salomao, the
Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development
Community, at SADC headquarters in Gaborone March 13. Though
the two had met previously at diplomatic corps events, this
was their first office call. Embassy Gaborone had been
seeking this appointment for months, but schedule conflicts
and Dr. Salomao's extensive travels had forced its long
postponement. Ambassador was accompanied by DCM and Pol/Econ
Chief. Dr. Salomao was accompanied by one of his publicity
officers (who photographed the presentation of the
Secretary's letter),but he did not bring any policy aides or
action officers from the Secretariat into the meeting.

Praise for the Trade Hub
--------------

3. (U) As he presented the letter designating him as the
Secretary of State's Special Representative to SADC,
Ambassador Nolan expressed the USG's desire to work closely
with the regional community on both development and peace and
security matters. ES Salomao said that he had worked closely

with former Ambassador Canavan and looked forward to doing
the same with Ambassador Nolan. Salomao noted that he thinks
that the Southern African Competitiveness Hub (funded by
USAID) is "doing a commendable job" and he was grateful to
Ambassador Canavan for working to keep the Hub in Gaborone
and working closely with SADC. Salomao also said that the
Trade Hub staff were "instrumental" to SADC as the
organization launched its Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2008. He
explained that he expects SADC will continue to work closely
with the Hub as they work toward eventual Customs Union and a
wider FTA to include the East African Community and COMESA.

Defense Cooperation
--------------

4. (SBU) The Ambassador was pleased to hear that USG trade
facilitation support has been so valuable to SADC, and he
noted that he hopes that our cooperation will continue and
deepen. He explained that in January 2009, former President
Bush signed a "Presidential Determination" (PD) which lays
the groundwork for future USG defense cooperation with SADC.
The Ambassador provided Salomao with a copy of the PD, some
background information about the PD (derived from Ref A),and
a copy of the written questions that the Department (Ref B)
has requested that post provide to SADC concerning End-Use
Monitoring Agreements and other legal processes. Salomao did
not indicate whether or not he was familiar with the PD, but
seemed receptive to the general idea of defense cooperation.
The Ambassador said that Pol/Econ Chief and OSC Chief would
follow up on the list of questions with appropriate
Secretariat staff at a later date. Salomao said that the
SADC Standby Brigade had been launched in Lusaka in August
2007 and is preparing for its first exercise in September

2009. This exercise, Salomao said, is expected to help link
the brigade into the African Union's overall plans for a
continent-wide force. The location of the exercise is still
being discussed, and Salomao said that it may be hosted in
South Africa, Angola, or Tanzania.

Zimbabwe
--------------

GABORONE 00000209 002 OF 003



5. (SBU) Ambassador Nolan explained that President Obama had
renewed the USG's sanctions against certain Zimbabwean
individuals and companies in early March 2009 for an
additional year, but noted that these sanctions could be
rolled back sooner if sufficient progress occurs. He
provided Salomao with a non-paper regarding the USG's current
position on Zimbabwe (derived from Ref C) and a copy of the
White House announcement regarding sanctions renewal.
However, the Ambassador also emphasized that USG humanitarian
assistance to Zimbabwe is significant and continues. He
emphasized that the USG will consider additional development
assistance if/when we see real evidence of political change
and genuine powersharing. Ambassador Nolan recognized the
release from jail of Deputy Agriculture Minister - designate
Roy Bennet and other political prisoners and said that some
progress is being made, but noted that more progress is
needed before any change in USG policy.


6. (SBU) Dr. Salomao responded by giving the Ambassador an
overview of SADC's efforts over the past year to broker talks
between ZANU-PF and MDC. Salomao prefaced his remarks by
reminding the Ambassador that he comes from Mozambique, and
said that his views are colored by his country's experience
of over 16 years of brutal civil war. Salomao indicted that
SADC spent from June to December 2008 "just trying to get the
two sides to really talk to one another about the issues."
He considered the talks in Harare on January 16, 2009 to have
been "a major breakthrough" which set the stage for the
January 26 Extraordinary Heads of State Summit in Pretoria,
at which ZANU-PF and both factions of MDC finally agreed on a
timeline for the enactment of the unity government. Dr.
Salomao said that he now travels to Harare "from time to
time" to give advice to the new government and encourage the
parties to work together and put their differences aside. He
said that based on his observations from visits to Harare and
discussions at the recent Cape Town SADC Finance Ministers
meeting, Salomao believes that "they (the unity government)
are trying." He noted that the role of the unity government
is to prepare for new, credible elections within three years
and that SADC will continue to monitor the situation and
offer support as needed. He believes that the Joint
Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) is
functioning and helps to resolve differences between the
parties. Dr. Salomao said that his advice to the Zimbabwean
leaders has been to deal with all sensitive issues and "not
to sweep them under the carpet." Salomao emphasized that
"SADC's only option is to support Zimbabwe." "Let's give
them (the Zimbabwean parties) a chance," he repeated several
times.

Increased USAID Engagement?
--------------

7. (U) The Ambassador also briefly followed up on the idea
of a multi-sector USAID umbrella obligating agreement with
SADC. This proposal was discussed by visiting USAID Pretoria
officials with Dr. Salomao in October 2008. If SADC concurs,
USAID would be interested in pursuing a multi-sector
assistance agreement that would cover regional activities,
including potentially economic growth, agriculture,
environment, and HIV/AIDS. However, historically USG
restrictions on support to Zimbabwe have been an obstacle to
concluding such an obligating document, and those
restrictions have not changed. Dr. Salomao told the
Ambassador that SADC is still interested in pursuing a broad
agreement with USAID, but did not comment on the impact of
the Zimbabwe restrictions or how SADC might deal with this
obstacle. The Ambassador explained that USAID Pretoria would
follow-up directly with the Secretariat with more details.

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

8. (SBU) COMMENT: Though we are pleased that the Ambassador
was able to meet with SADC Executive Secretary Salomao after
many months of seeking the appointment, it is worrisome that
he did not include any technical staff or action officers in
the meeting who could follow-up as needed on the issues
discussed. It is unclear whether the messages we passed,
regarding the PD or the USAID umbrella agreement proposal for
example, will be shared with the working level staff at the
Secretariat for action. Pol/Econ Chief and OSC Chief will
seek a meeting at the earliest opportunity to talk directly
to Organ on Defense, Politics, and Security staff regarding
the PD and the Department's questions about its

GABORONE 00000209 003 OF 003


implementation. However, we cannot guarantee a timely
response to the Department's written questions will be
forthcoming, as the institutional capacity at the Secretariat
is challenged. It was interesting that Salomao did not press
the Ambassador for increased USG assistance to Zimbabwe or
any change to our existing policy. Why did Salomao fail to
raise the issue of the $5 billion in new donor assistance
that Zimbabwe is seeking, a request supported by SADC? END
COMMENT.
NOLAN