VZCZCXRO2660
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0220/01 0721236
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121236Z MAR 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8649
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0128

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000220 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD KHUM EAID MZ ZI KPKO
SUBJECT: FM AGREES TO BILATERAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE, AND TO 
DISCUSS AN ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT 
 
REF: MAPUTO 172 
 
Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Matthew P.Roth, Reasons 1.4(b)&(d) 
 
¶1.  (U) Note:  This report was written February 26 but final 
transmission was delayed.  While FM Abreu was dismissed from 
her duties on March 10, this conversation and the issues 
discussed will serve as a basis for our first meeting with 
the new Foreign Minister.  End Note. 
 
¶2.  (U) Summary: In a meeting with the Charge, Foreign 
Minister Alcinda Abreu agreed to begin a formal bilateral 
political dialogue.  She also expressed interest in a 
bilateral agreement encompassing all USG assistance, and 
spoke on possible Mozambican participation in peacekeeping 
operations and on the political situations in Zimbabwe and 
Kenya.  We will begin crafting an agenda for a political 
dialogue and have USG lawyers work with the MFA on an 
agreement encompassing all USG assistance.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Relationship at an All-Time High 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) The Charge d'Affaires, USAID Director, and P/E Chief 
met with Mozambican Foreign Minister Alcinda de Abreu on 
February 21.  The Charge opened the meeting by highlighting 
Mozambique,s growing profile in Washington as U.S. 
assistance to the country has increased, mentioning 
specifically the successful visits of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) Secretary Leavitt and high-level Department of 
Defense officials.  He added that State's AF Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Carol Thompson would visit Mozambique March 2-3. 
 
SIPDIS 
Noting that President Armando Guebuza visited the United 
States more than any other country, the FM said 
U.S.-Mozambican relations were at an all-time high. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Agreement to Start a Formal Political Dialogue 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4.  (U) Suggesting that the heightened profile presented an 
opportunity to develop a formal political bilateral dialogue, 
the Charge proposed meeting every six months to address 
bilateral issues.  The Charge commented that he had raised 
this idea with the Mozambican Ambassador to the United States 
who agreed that it had merit.  The Charge indicated such a 
dialogue could include global issues such as the United 
Nations, Kosovo, human rights, as well as regional issues 
such as strengthening the capacity of SADC, moving forward on 
regional economic integration, Kenya, and democracy. 
 
¶5.  (U) The FM agreed, saying that the GRM has similar 
dialogues with other countries, including one with the 
European Union which began in 2005.  She suggested that, 
given the interest in AFRICOM, for example, such a venue 
could be useful to discuss military interests as well.  She 
demurred on Kosovo, however, (reftel), noting that Mozambique 
traditionally avoids getting involved in this type of 
controversial issue.  On Kenya, the FM said the GRM was very 
concerned with how the tribal issues were playing out and 
expressed her personal relief that Mozambican eminence grise 
Graca Machel was now involved. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
PKOs and Zimbabwe: An Alternate Reality 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Noting the USG's increasing concerns over Zimbabwe, 
the Charge queried the FM on how she viewed Zimbabwe's 
future.  The FM responded that she felt the South African-led 
resolution process was seemingly successful, as Zimbabwe 
would soon hold elections that would be observed by Angolan 
experts. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The Charge suggested that some USG training for 
Mozambique's armed forces (FADM) might dwindle as the GRM had 
yet to commit to substantial peacekeeping operations (PKOs), 
and asked when the GRM would begin to participate in PKOs in 
the region.  The FM said she believed that the GRM was 
actively involved in these missions as observers, listing 
Mozambican participation in places like East Timor, Sudan, 
and the FADM's participation in a SADC stand-by force.  That 
said, she felt that it would be politically untenable for the 
GRM to send forces to ongoing war zones, as Mozambicans are 
still suffering from the trauma of their civil war. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Discussing a Bilateral Assistance Framework 
------------------------------------------- 
 
 
MAPUTO 00000220  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶8.  (U) The USAID Director highlighted the increased USG 
assistance to Mozambique and noted the increase in the number 
of USG staff and contractors involved in implementation.  In 
light of these twin factors, he urged the FM to consider 
moving forward on a bilateral assistance agreement to cover 
all the USG's programs in Mozambique, ranging from issues of 
licensing, to taxes and visa issues.  The FM agreed, and 
suggested that USAID lawyers begin the process by meeting 
with the MFA's legal department. 
 
-------- 
COMMENT 
-------- 
 
¶9.  (C) The FM seemed far removed from reality on some key 
issues.  Her statements at the meeting did nothing to dispel 
rumors that she is not particularly influential within 
FRELIMO circles nor gainsay criticisms heard from other 
diplomatic missions that she is managing both her portfolio 
and Ministry poorly.  She did, however, agree to a formal 
bilateral dialogue and was clearly willing to discuss further 
ways to negotiate a bilateral agreement for USG assistance 
programs.  To follow up on Abreu's commitment, we will begin 
immediately to work with GRM officials to identify concrete 
agenda items for a dialogue and with the MFA's juridical 
affairs group to identify the next steps to a bilateral 
agreement on assistance.  END COMMENT. 
Chapman