SOUTH AFRICA - EU SUMMIT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 001977


DEPT FOR AF/S - DIOPM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2019
TAGS: PREL SF EU
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA - EU SUMMIT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN
RELATIONS

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer. Reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On September 11, President Jacob Zuma met
with European Union (EU) head of delegation Swedish Prime
Minister Frederick Reinfeldt, EU High Representative for the
Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and other EU
leaders at the second South Africa - EU Summit in Kleinmond,
South Africa. They signed the first Revision Agreement to
the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) and
discussed EU funded science and technology programs. Summit
topics included the global economic crisis; the Doha
Development Agenda; climate change; the Joint Africa-EU
Strategy; and the EU-Southern Africa Development Community
Economic Partnership Agreement. They also discussed the
situations in the Great Lakes region, Burundi, Zimbabwe,
Sudan, Somalia, Madagascar, Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. Swedish diplomat Jon Eklund told Poloff climate
change was a big issue for the EU during this Summit, and
that they were disappointed with South Africa's noncommittal
response. End summary.

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TRADE, AID AND CLIMATE CHANGE
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2. (C) The Summit joint communiqu highlighted the 10th
anniversary of the TDCA and the signing of the first Revision
Agreement. Eklund thought the Revision Agreement was not a
significant development. Of note was the launch of a 120
million Euro (USD 176.5 million) employment creation fund and
the ongoing implementation of a 30 million Euro (USD 44
million) science and technology budget support program geared
toward poverty alleviation. Although mentioning a "frank and
open discussion" on the EU-SADC Economic Partnership
Agreement (EPA),the joint communiqu only says that both
sides agreed to resolve outstanding issues "with a view to a
prompt and mutually satisfactory conclusion that supports
regional integration and development in Southern Africa."
(Note: South Africa rejected EU-SADC EPA negotiations
claiming that SADC countries were not ready to open their
markets and compete with the EU on an equal footing. South
African officials and civil society criticized the EU for
setting back SADC's regional integration ambitions by signing
EPAs with some SADC members. End note.) Summit leaders also
discussed the global economic crisis, particularly its
negative impact on Africa. They committed to work together
to develop a "stronger, more globally consistent, supervisory
and regulatory framework for the financial sector..." They
also agreed to remain committed to reach a conclusion to the
Doha Development Agenda in 2010. While climate change was a
priority issue for the EU, the South African response was
disappointing, according to Eklund. The South Africans made
no commitments and focused their points on requesting
technology transfers.

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AFRICAN CONFLICTS AND THE MIDDLE EAST
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3. (C) According to the joint communiqu, Summit leaders
discussed a broad range of conflicts and problems in Africa
and the Middle East. On the Great Lakes, they expressed
concern for civilians, the humanitarian situation in Eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo, widespread sexual violence
and the Kivu provinces. They highlighted South Africa's
contributions to the peace process in Burundi and committed
to providing assistance for the electoral process and
socioeconomic development. They noted progress in the
implementation of the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe
and concerns about "the environment in which it is taking
place." They urged full implementation of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement in Sudan and expressed support for AU peace
initiatives throughout Sudan. On Somalia, the Summit leaders
reaffirmed support to the Transitional Federal Government and
thanked the AU and AMISOM for their contributions. Eklund
said Solana asked for South African naval assistance in
fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia and the response was
that finances were making this difficult. Eklund also said
that in prior meetings with Department of International
Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) officials, they never
mentioned finances being the problem, but were skeptical
about fighting piracy on the high seas. The joint communiqu
stresses the need to fight the root causes of piracy. They
commended the SADC mediator for progress made to restore
constitutional order in Madagascar and expressed concern at
attempts to under the Maputo agreements as well as unilateral
decisions that violate the spirit of the agreements.



4. (U) In the joint communiqu, summit leaders encouraged
Iran's engagement with the international community regarding
its nuclear program and expressed concern over limitations of
political freedoms following the June 12 elections. They
welcomed international efforts, including initiatives of the
new U.S. administration, towards a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and comprehensive peace in the
Middle East.


5. (C) Comment: As Eklund noted, the Summit was not
significant in substance, but he hopes that by bringing top
EU diplomats to the meeting, South Africa will assess the
relationship with greater importance. End comment.


GIPS