ZAMBIA PROMISES IMPROVED MULTILATERAL COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000296

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2019
TAGS: UN UNHRC CU ZA
SUBJECT: ZAMBIA PROMISES IMPROVED MULTILATERAL COOPERATION

Classified By: Ambassador Donald Booth for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. In a meeting to discuss multilateral
cooperation as well as Zambian Foreign Minister Kabinga
Pande's May visit to Washington, Foreign Ministry Permanent
Secretary Tens Kapoma confirmed his interest in improving
U.S.-Zambian voting coincidence within the United Nations.
He promised to support the U.S. bid for a seat on the UN
Human Rights Council and agreed on the importance of holding
Iran responsible for its non-proliferation and human rights
obligations. Kapoma also offered to encourage his
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) counterparts to respond favorably
to President Obama's overtures to countries like Cuba and
Iran. End Summary.


2. (C) In an April 27 meeting, Permanent Secretary Tens
Kapoma reiterated his interest in improving U.S.-Zambian
bilateral and multilateral relations by increasing Zambia's
UN voting coincidence with the USG and by supporting the U.S.
bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. The DCM
welcomed this commitment and thanked the Zambian Government
(GRZ) for its efforts to moderate the language of the Durban
Review Conference draft document. Kapoma acknowledged that
the document was "compromised" and expressed his
disappointment at the outcome.


3. (C) The DCM suggested that the GRZ also seek ways to
increase its regional peacekeeping operations and to hold
Iran accountable to its obligations under UN Security Council
resolutions. Kapoma acknowledged the need to seek greater
commitment from Iran on non-proliferation and human rights
issues alike. He said that Zambia had used -- and would
continue to use -- NAM as a forum for calling for needed
progress on Iran. He also suggested that GRZ supports
appointing a special rapporteur on human rights to Iran.


4. (C) Concerning Pande's current visit to Cuba for the NAM
ministerial, the DCM recommended that Pande encourage a more
favorable Cuban and NAM response to USG policy developments
regarding remittances and travel to Cuba. The DCM also
pointed out that Zambian endorsement of U.S. efforts on Cuba
and Iran would be helpful to U.S. attempts to improving
relations with them. Kapoma repeated Zambia's "principled"
opposition to the embargo. Nevertheless, he offered to
encourage his Cuban counterparts to "go slow on rhetoric."

BOOTH