TFHA01: SWAZILAND OFFERS CONDOLENCES, BUT NO MATERIAL

UNCLAS MBABANE 000024 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR WHA/FO SWILLIAMS, DCHA/OTI MROSSER, AND AF/S FOR MHARRIS PASS USAID FOR MAURA O'NEILL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PREL PREF PHUM HA WZ SUBJECT: TFHA01: SWAZILAND OFFERS CONDOLENCES, BUT NO MATERIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HAITIAN RELIEF REF 1) STATE 4854 2) STATE 4909 ¶1. (SBU) On January 20, Foreign Ministry Assistant Socio-Political Analyst Vulindlela Kunene told PolOff that the Swazi government (GKOS) has not provided humanitarian assistance to Haiti (ref A). It is unlikely GKOS will provide assistance in the coming days, and there are no plans to register donations per ref B. ¶2. (U) On January 19, Swazi Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini sent a message of condolence to the Government of Haiti via its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. The message, also provided to local newspapers, reads: "I have it in command by His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty Queen Mother and on behalf of the Government of the People of the Kingdom of Swaziland, as well as my own, to express our grief on learning about the recent devastating earthquake which claimed thousands of lives. It is our hope and prayer that the Almighty God will comfort the relatives and friends of the deceased, the Government and the People of the Republic of Haiti during this hour of bereavement." IRVING