Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
96STATE86789
1996-04-26 13:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

SADC'S VIEWS ON ZAIRE

Tags:  PREL ECON ENRG CG 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 261325Z APR 96
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GABORONE 
INFO AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 086789 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/01
TAGS: PREL ECON ENRG CG
SUBJECT: SADC'S VIEWS ON ZAIRE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 086789


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/01
TAGS: PREL ECON ENRG CG
SUBJECT: SADC'S VIEWS ON ZAIRE


1. CLASSIFIED BY AF/C - MARY BETH LEONARD, REASON 1.5
(D).


2. DEPARTMENT NOTES THAT NON-SADC MEMBER ZAIRE IS
PARTICIPATING IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN POWER POOL (SAPP),
AND UNDERSTANDS THAT ZAIRE MAY HAVE EVEN APPROACHED SADC
TO INQUIRE ABOUT MEMBERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. THE
DEPARTMENT DOES NOT CARE TO COMMENT ON THE MERITS OF
ZAIRIAN PARTICIPATION IN EITHER OF THESE VENTURES.
HOWEVER, WE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT SADC'S VIEWS OF ZAIRE'S
INTERNAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION GLEANED FROM
THESE INTERACTIONS, AND WONDER WHETHER THESE EVOLVING
TIES MIGHT EVENTUALLY CONSTITUTE AN AVENUE OF LEVERAGE
WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAIRE.


3. EMBASSY GABORONE IS REQUESTED AT AN APPROPRIATE
OCCASION TO SOLICIT SADC'S VIEWS ON ZAIRE, WITH
PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ITS INTERNAL POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS. EMBASSY SHOULD CONVEY U.S.
CONCERN THAT THE ZAIRIAN GOVERNMENT AND BOTH POLITICAL
"FAMILIES" (ALLIANCES OF POLITICAL PARTIES) WORK
SERIOUSLY TO ADVANCE THE DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION, A PROCESS
WE VIEW AS AN INDISPENSABLE COUNTERPART TO ZAIRE'S
ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING AND DEVELOPMENT. IN ITS
CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS WITH ZAIRE, SADC MIGHT WISH TO
STRESS THAT SAME LINKAGE.


TALBOTT