PANDE CALLS OFF THE DOGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000706

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/S - NAMDE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2014
TAGS: PREL ZA
SUBJECT: PANDE CALLS OFF THE DOGS

REF: A. LUSAKA 694

B. LUSAKA 698

Classified By: CDA Michael Koplovsky for reason(s) 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) There have been no further public accusations,
threats or nefarious assertions against diplomats resident in
Lusaka since Charge's October 7 meeting with Foreign Minister
Pande (ref A). Zambian Government (GRZ) officials have
reverted to their status quo ante antics -- excoriating
independent media and brow-beating civil society. EU Chiefs
of Mission have yet to secure an audience with Pande, which
would in any case have been a tortuous discussion of Cotonou
Article 8 democracy and governance criteria rather than a
frank demarche on diplomatic practices and etiquette. In
discussions with emboffs, donors remained steadfast in their
"red-line" position that the GRZ must 1) register the UK
civil case against former President Chiluba; 2) appeal the
Chiluba acquittal; 3) not/not restore Chiluba's presidential
immunity; and 4) stop assaults on press freedom.


2. (C) As for the fallout from the ref B note verbale
strictly interpreting Vienna Article 41, Embassy Lusaka has
been keeping its GRZ appointments, conducting business as
usual, but continues to seek clarification from all our GRZ
interlocutors on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) demand
for communication solely through Foreign Affairs channels.
There have been no reports of enforcement of the note
verbale, nor of repercussions for ignoring it. Donors are
quite concerned that their development programs and technical
assistance will grind to a halt if the GRZ enforces the note
verbale to the letter. We are more concerned that a double
standard will be applied: We will be free to continue
development assistance unhindered, but less congenial
discussions with our Zambian counterparts will require
coordination through the Foreign Ministry.

KOPLOVSKY