Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LUANDA272
2009-04-22 15:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:  

STAFFDEL MARSH ENGAGES ON POLITICAL, SOCIAL

Tags:  PGOV ECON EAID KDEM PHUM OVIP AO 
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VZCZCXRO6238
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0272/01 1121522
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221522Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5453
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000272 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/S AND H
H PLEASE PASS TO HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MAJORITY STAFF DR. MARSH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAID KDEM PHUM OVIP AO
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MARSH ENGAGES ON POLITICAL, SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT

REF: LUANDA 204

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000272

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/S AND H
H PLEASE PASS TO HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MAJORITY STAFF DR. MARSH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAID KDEM PHUM OVIP AO
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MARSH ENGAGES ON POLITICAL, SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT

REF: LUANDA 204


1. (SBU) Summary. During an April 9-12 visit, Staffdel Marsh
met with top government officials, including Foreign Minister
Assuncao Afonso dos Anjos, Secretary General of the MPLA Dino
Matross, and Acting President of the National Assembly Joana
Lina Ramos. Marsh participated in discussions with
representatives of civil society, the economic and financial
community, and President of UNITA Isaias Samakuva. In Kwanza
Sul and Benguela provinces, Marsh saw first hand USG
assistance in the areas of health and agricultural
development. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Senior Professional Staff Member of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs visited Angola April 9-12.
Marsh met with government and party officials, visited
USAID-supported projects, and met with civil society and
international NGO officials. Marsh's conversations on
elections and revision of the constitution are reported
reftel.


3. (SBU) In an April 9 meeting with Dr. Marsh, Foreign
Minister Assuncao dos Anjos noted the robust U.S.-Angolan
relationship and emphasized the Angolan interest in deepened
economic cooperation. He hoped the recently negotiated trade
and investment framework agreement (TIFA) would be signed
shortly. Dos Anjos said the GRA sought to diversify its
economy, particularly in agriculture, and for that reason was
"very interested in AGOA." Dos Anjos was particularly eager
to meet with Secretary Clinton in May and expressed his hope
that President dos Santos and President Obama would meet in
the near future. Marsh highlighted the importance of a
Treasury Department resident advisor for transparency and
development. Charge raised the possibility of a Peace Corps
presence in Angola and informed the minister that a Peace
Corps team was planning a visit. Dos Anjos welcomed such a
visit. Marsh told Dos Anjos that she would be happy to
arrange a meeting with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Committee when the minister came to Washington.


4. (SBU) On April 9, Acting President of the National

Assembly Joana Lina Ramos briefed Marsh on the operations of
the Angolan parliament and discussed the constitutional
revision process. Ramos emphasized that, despite its 82
percent majority, the MPLA was reaching out to opposition
members. Ramos said that opposition party representatives
are entitled to speak out on any piece of legislation brought
to the floor and may participate in the writing of
legislation in any of the nine parliamentary working
committees. Ramos said that committee hearings are open to
the public on a case-by-case basis. A subsequent meetings
with MPLA Secretary General Dino Matross and UNITA President
Samakuva focused on the constitution and prospects for
presidential elections and are reported reftel.


5. (SBU) In a heated dinner conversation at Charge's
residence, representatives of civil society and international
NGOs bemoaned MPLA dominance of the political playing field
in Angola. The representative of the Association for
Justice, Peace and Democracy, one of Angola's premier human
rights organizations, was particularly forceful in voicing
his concerns over the limited space offered for public
discussion of human rights, political freedoms, and good
governance. He argued that the MPLA exercised strict control
over the media and civil society by using economic and
financial levers to limit the livelihoods of journalists and
intellectuals who might oppose the ruling party.


6. (U) During a two-day trip to Kwanza Sul and Benguela
provinces, Marsh visited three assistance programs and
discussed the work environment for non-governmental
organizations with international organizations. She saw two
malaria-control activities funded by USAID under the
President's Malaria Initiative and implemented by Africare
and Catholic Relief Services. Marsh discussed economic
development, market linkages and access to credit with
Cooperative League of the USA (CLUSA) reps and local banana
farmers in Benguela.


7. (SBU) In a April 11 dinner, the senior World Bank
economist in Angola described a likely nominal GDP decline of
17 to 23 percent for 2009, but was optimistic about Angola's
mid to long-term growth and development prospects. He
believed Angola was right to focus on rebuilding its
infrastructure first among its myriad development needs in
the wake of the 27 year civil war. He believed that the GRA
understood that it now had to focus on the social development

LUANDA 00000272 002 OF 002


needs such as health, and education. He noted that the GRA
was taking concreate steps to address these issues, but that
it had some significant head winds do to the lack of human
capital in these areas. On transparency, he believed Angola
was moving in the right direction by publishing more of the
budget and other financial data online, but it was still
inconsistent in this and at times it had removed data from
online sources.


8. (SBU) Comment: Staffdel Marsh received a remarkably
high-level and enthusiastic reception from the Angolan
government, especially considering her arrival in Angola over
a holiday weekend. The Angolans quite clearly demonstrated
the importance they attach to such attention. End comment.
HAWKINS