PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

UNCLAS HARARE 001007 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O AF FOR A/S JOHNNIE CARSON, PDAS DON YAMAMOTO, DAS SUSAN PAGE AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL PGOV OVIP ZI SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA ¶1. The following is the text of a message as received from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe to President Barack Obama of the United States of America. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT: REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE The Prime Minister 21 December 2009 His Excellency Barrack Obama President of the United States of America Your Excellency, As we approach the end of 2009, a period that has turned out to be a watershed for Zimbabwe, I write to convey my appreciation for the support we have received from you personally, the government and people of your great nation. Kindly pass on my warm thanks also to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I was very pleased, Mr. President, to note the support offered by your country and the various international Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that expanded beyond the life saving interventions which were so important. This assistance has brought direct benefits to millions of our people and has demonstrated to the hard pressed population that the reformists in government are capable of delivering results. Your support for my office has also been invaluable and I look forward to this continuing. As you are no doubt aware, Your Excellency, we are at a crucial stage in our efforts to ensure the full implementation of the GPA. Meanwhile, our political situation remains characterised by intransigence to frustrate the process of bringing about real change. The role played by SADC, in general, and the mediator President Jacob Zuma, in particular, is greatly appreciated. I know that you have personally played a crucial role in helping this to happen, and I encourage you to continue your crucial dialogue with President Zuma. We have had discussions with Ambassador Charles Ray on restrictive measures. I well understand that movement on the part of the International Community will need to be in response to tangible progress on GPA implementation. We should, however, ensure that movement when it comes is seen to be acknowledged in a tangible way - striking a careful balance between retaining leverage and rewarding progress. This will involve difficult judgements but it will be important to sustain momentum when it comes. In light of the current negotiations of the three political parties I have now taken personal interest in the normalisation of relations between my government and your government and my office will be following up on this very critical issue in the coming year. We have, with your help, made real progress in 2009. Zimbabwe has been brought back from the brink. The economy has been stabilised. Essential health, education and other services have been restored. A long and difficult road clearly lies ahead but with the continued support of key partners like the US, and also the active engagement of SADC and South Africa, I have every hope of building on this start. May I wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a joyous New Year. Please accept, Mr. President, assurances of my esteem consideration. Looking forward to continue working with you, Morgan Tsvangirai END TEXT. ¶3. (U) The letter was received by hand delivery via U.S. Defense Attache LtCol. Patrick Anderson at the U.S. Embassy Harare on Tuesday, December 29, 2009. Original will be forwarded to AF/S Desk Officer Brian Walch via diplomatic pouch, registration number ¶7262800. RAY