MALAWI: AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000042 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ZI MI SUBJECT: MALAWI: AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: A. SECSTATE 7005 ¶B. PELLETREAU-SULLIVAN EMAILS FROM JAN. 27 ¶1. (SBU) On January 28, emboff delivered reftel demarche to Acting Principal Secretary Eric Ning'ang'a at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ning'ang'a confirmed that the Foreign Minister, along with the entire political affairs department, had already departed for the AU Summit. Ning'ang'a noted all of the issues and promised to pass the concerns to the Foreign Minister. Per ref email, emboff also requested a sidebar meeting between the FM and Acting A/S Carter in Addis Ababa. Ning'ang'a said that the FM had a very tight schedule, but he would send the request to the FM as well. ¶2. (SBU) Ning'ang'a also commented on Malawi's participation at the SADC extraordinary summit. Ning'ang'a said Malawi's representative - Minister of Local Government George Chapoanda - was a former foreign minister and close to the President. He added that he was pleased with the communique and hoped that both sides would give the proposed inclusive government time to work. He reiterated that Malawi would continue to work with SADC on Zimbabwe, but was not likely to issue unilateral statements. BODDE