BOTSWANA AND IRAN: FOOTBALL AND DIPLOMACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000486

SIPDIS

FOR AF/S AND NEA/IR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2019
TAGS: PREL IR BC
SUBJECT: BOTSWANA AND IRAN: FOOTBALL AND DIPLOMACY

REF: GABORONE 336

Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Heather Merritt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (C) On June 9, the Botswana Football Association (BFA),
the governing body for soccer in Botswana, announced plans
for a match between the Iranian national soccer team and
Botswana's national team the Zebras to be held July 5 in
Gaborone. Botswana, like the rest of the Southern Africa, is
trying to capitalize on the 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010
World Cup to attract new tourists and also to increase
international exposure for its soccer team. According to the
Embassy's LES Political Assistant (who is also the BFA Vice
President),Botswana's President Ian Khama reacted angrily to
the announcement of the Iran-Botswana match, and phoned
Minister of Youth, Sport, and Culture Gladys Kokorwe to ask
why this match had been organized. Minister Kokorwe
explained that the BFA and not her Ministry was responsible,
and so the President summoned BFA representatives to a
meeting at the Presidency on June 12.


2. (C) President Khama was accompanied by Foreign Minister
Skelemani at the June 12 meeting with BFA President David
Fani and other officials from BFA and the Sports Ministry.
President Khama reportedly asked the BFA why they had
organized a football match with a country like Iran. Khama
complained that Iran was undemocratic and treated women
badly. He said that Iran had been trying to open diplomatic
relations with Botswana, but that he would not allow Iran to
open an Embassy here in Botswana. David Fani of the BFA
explained that a sports agent based in Cape Town had come to
the BFA and offered this friendly match to the Zebras. The
Iranian team is planning a series of matches in Southern
Africa, including one against South African professional team
Kaiser Chiefs. According to the BFA, Botswana was not asked
to pay any expenses for the visiting Iranian team and the
sports agent would take 15% of the gate as a commission. The
BFA told Khama that Iran is a FIFA member (soccer's worldwide
governing body) and that they did not consider politics when
accepting the match. President Khama grudgingly agreed that
the match could continue, and the BFA promised to check more
carefully with the Government before accepting any other
potentially controversial matches for the national team.
President Khama, who is also the official "patron" of the
national soccer team, also agreed that he would attend the
match (as is his custom),but told the BFA that they had to
ensure that he and his delegation were seated as far away as
possible from any Iranian officials attending the match. He
said that he preferred not to speak to any Iranian
representatives during the game.


3. (C) COMMENT: Botswana's principled stance on Zimbabwe,
North Korea (reftel),and even Iran seems to originate from
the genuine moral beliefs of President Khama and other
government leaders. President Khama clearly has no sympathy
for "rogue" states, and under his leadership the Government
of Botswana should be willing to play a helpful role in
international bodies on votes dealing with these nations. It
is interesting to learn that Iran has approached the GOB
seeking to open diplomatic relations. Iran has an Embassy in
Pretoria, but according to the Botswana diplomatic list,
there is no accredited Iranian representative here. Many
Ambassadors resident in Pretoria also cover Botswana, but
given Khama's dislike of Iran, it is not likely that Iran
will accredit an Ambassador to Botswana anytime soon. Though
Foreign Minister Skelemani frequently says publicly and
privately that "Botswana is a friend to all" and the country
is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the GOB is likely to
continue on the path of friendly relations with the USA and
UK and cold relations with rogue states. END COMMENT.
NOLAN