(C) Secretary Clinton's March 19, 2009 Meeting

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 027831 E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: OVIP CLINTON HILLARY PREL PGOV PHUM UNSC SF SUBJECT: (C) Secretary Clinton's March 19, 2009 Meeting with South African Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma. ¶1. (C) Classified by: Acting Assistant Secretary Phillip Carter, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State - Reason 1.4 (d) ¶2. (U) March 19, 2009, 2:30 p.m., Washington, DC. ¶3. (U) Participants: United States The Secretary Acting Assistant Secretary Phillip Carter, AF Acting Assistant Secretary Robert A. Wood, PA Joe Macmanus, Executive Assistant, S Staff Rush Marburg, AF Notetaker South Africa Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, DFA UN Permanent Representative, Ambassador Sipho G. Nene Ambassador Welile Nhlapo, South African Embassy, USA Fadl Nacerodien, Director, USA Desk, DFA ¶4. (C) SUMMARY. On March 19, 2009, Secretary Clinton hosted South African Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma for discussions that included broadly enhanced bilateral engagement, the status of the World Conference Against Racism Durban review document, the current situation in Zimbabwe and existing United States sanctions, deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Sudan and multilateral nonproliferation engagement. Secretary Clinton acknowledged the importance of the United States - South Africa bilateral relationship and urged Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma and the South African government to take a leadership role in helping address broad African challenges in the areas of health, economic development and regional conflict in Sudan and Zimbabwe. Other topics of discussion included the upcoming South African elections, renewable energy, education and the need to stimulate agricultural growth both in South Africa and the region. END SUMMARY. -------------- BILATERAL COOPERATION: MOVING FORWARD -------------- ¶5. (C) Secretary Clinton proposed a new working group model for continued dialogue between the United States and South Africa involving all levels of government on bilateral issues. The Secretary expressed our desire to engage in areas of trade and investment, energy technology development, renewable and alternate fuel research and electricity and power. FM Dlamini-Zuma welcomed this suggestion and noted that our ongoing collaboration in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and health issues demonstrates that we can work cooperatively on achieving shared objectives. Secretary Clinton suggested that a new working group model could build partnerships for the long term. ¶6. (C) FM Dlamini-Zuma expressed a desire to strengthen trade and economic ties with the United States, and noted that the U.S. is South Africa's second largest trading partner. Dlamini-Zuma asserted that economic cooperation with the United States is a top priority, which we can improve upon. Dlamini-Zuma also noted South Africa's interest in working with other countries to develop its agricultural capacity. On education, she cautioned that South Africa cannot grow economically with a poorly educated work force and cited the need for improved higher education institutions in her country. -------------- -- WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM - DURBAN REVIEW -------------- -- ¶7. (C) Dlamini-Zuma provided an update on recent Geneva- based meetings on the Durban review document and invited USG engagement moving forward. She noted that many of the areas of concern to the United States had been addressed and/or removed from the document. In support of this claim, Dlamini-Zuma identified changes in the language on anti-Zionism, sexual orientation, and the removal of anti- Israeli text. Dlamini-Zuma added that the document has been reduced from 63 to 17 pages in length, and noted that much progress has been made on the language. Dlamini-Zuma suggested that, if the United States decides to reengage, South Africa is willing to dispatch its team to meet with USG counterparts to work cooperatively. Secretary Clinton thanked Dlamini-Zuma for her efforts and agreed that racism remains a serious problem and challenge. The Secretary urged that any Durban follow-on discussions should focus on addressing the problem of racism, as opposed to politicizing it. -------------- ZIMBABWE: OUR COMMITMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) Secretary Clinton explained that USG sanctions on Zimbabwe will remain in place as reflected in President Obama's recent decision to renew the national emergency declaration with regard to Zimbabwe. The Secretary noted, however, that USG aid relief to Zimbabwe will continue as we attempt to address the suffering of the Zimbabwean people. Dlamini-Zuma agreed that the situation in Zimbabwe is not easily solved. Recounting a recent trip to South Africa by Zimbabwean government leaders, notably Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Dlamini-Zuma said that new members of the coalition government are working with President Mugabe's faction to create a plan to kick-start the economy. Dlamini-Zuma suggested the USG could help by establishing agricultural lines of credit for Zimbabwean commercial farmers to help stimulate the agricultural sector. Dlamini-Zuma suggested this could be achieved, transparently, through the Zimbabwean agricultural unions that maintain independence from the Zimbabwe government. Equally important, Dlamini-Zuma argued, is the need for loans to help small businesses bounce back in the new Zimbabwe economy. Secretary Clinton expressed a desire to see the power-sharing agreement work and said that division of responsibilities is important as Zimbabwe moves forward to heal the wounds of the past. -------------- - SUDAN: URGE THE SUDANESE TO ALLOW NGO PRESENCE -------------- - ¶9. (C) Secretary Clinton expressed concern with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan following the expulsion of non-government organizations (NGOs) and informed Dlamini-Zuma that the U.S. intends to hold President Omar al-Bashir accountable for ignoring the needs of his people and not filling the void left by the departed NGOs. Secretary Clinton informed Dlamini-Zuma that President Obama has just named a Special Envoy for Sudan and suggested the envoy could engage with President Mbeki, who has just been appointed by the African Union (AU) to a special position to work on Darfur. Dlamini- Zuma said the South African government is attempting to encourage the Sudanese government to allow the return of at least some of the NGOs, and that her government is looking at ways to discourage President al-Bashir from chasing more aid workers from Sudan. She stressed, however, that the South African government remains equally concerned with the North-South peace agreement and prospects for sustainability. Dlamini-Zuma mentioned South African engagement with the Southern Sudanese, through training and education exchanges, which has helped build their capacity to effectively run government and public services. -------------- NONPROLIFERATION: CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) Secretary Clinton invited South Africa to remain engaged in multilateral discussions on the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Noting South Africa's importance as one of the leading Non-Aligned Movement voices, the Secretary said that South Africa's input will be valuable as we push for a new framework for the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Dlamini-Zuma welcomed the invitation and reiterated South Africa's strong position against nuclear arms development and the need for strong international controls on the development of nuclear technologies. -------------- CLOSING -------------- ¶11. (C) CONCLUSION: Both Secretary Clinton and Dlamini- Zuma reaffirmed their strong commitment to work together and to move the bilateral relationship forward. Secretary Clinton thanked Dlamini-Zuma for agreeing to travel to the United States to meet, and said that the USG intends to send a high-level delegation to South Africa for the inauguration of the new president on May 9. Dlamini-Zuma welcomed this news and left an open invitation for Secretary Clinton to visit South Africa in the near future. CLINTON