BOTSWANA: TENTATIVE UNGA PARTICIPATION INFO

UNCLAS GABORONE 000629 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP (SUN),AF/RSA (MAZEL) AND AF/S (GWYN) USUN FOR DUGAN NSC FOR BROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA OTRA OVIP BC SUBJECT: BOTSWANA: TENTATIVE UNGA PARTICIPATION INFO REF: STATE 68590 ¶1. The Government of Botswana has not yet made final plans regarding its representation during the 64th UN General Assembly. The senior government leadership are occupied with political campaigns, as Botswana will hold its general election in early October. (Note: The exact election date has not yet been announced, and will only be known when Parliament is dissolved later this month. End Note.) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has therefore not been able to share firm information about UNGA participation with our Embassy. Tentative information based on conversations with MFA officials follows and is formatted per reftel request. Post will transmit additional information once it is available. ¶2. Government of Botswana participation information (tentative only) follows: ¶A. Attendance of the Head of State --Name and Title: His Excellency Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana --Arrival/Departure Dates: President Khama is not/not expected to attend the UNGA this year, according to MFA sources. --Spouse Attendance: Not applicable. President is not married. --Interpreter: Not required. English speaker. ¶B. Attendance of Head of Government: See answer A. The President is both the Head of State and Government in Botswana. ¶C. Attendance of the Foreign Minister --Name and Title: The Honorable Phandu Skelemani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation --Arrival/Departure Dates: The MFA says that Skelemani's calendar currently shows him in New York from September 13-16 only. They expect him to make a very brief appearance in New York and then immediately return to Botswana after speaking to the General Assembly. (Note: Skelemani is a Member of Parliament and will be campaigning for re-election in his district during the month of September. End Note.) --Attendance of Spouse: Unknown. --Interpretation: No interpreter required. English speaker. ¶D. Attendance of other VIPs: The MFA is not aware of any other high-ranking Botswana government officials who plan to attend UNGA. They currently do not/not expect Vice President Mompati Merafhe to attend due to his election campaign commitments. (Note: Vice President Merafhe frequently represents Botswana at UN and AU events. End Note.) ¶E. Attendance of the Foreign Ministry official responsible for IO affairs --Name and Title: Mrs. Mmamosadinyana Punkie Josephine Molefe, Director of the Department of Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Note: Directors at the Botswana MFA rank as Ambassador-equivalent. End Note.) --Arrival and Departure Dates: Exact arrival and departure dates are still TBD. MFA sources expect Mrs. Molefe to accompany Minister Skelemani to New York but to stay on for additional meetings and to attend the general debate. --Interpreter: None required. English speaker. NOLAN