VZCZCXRO7675
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #1233/01 3281137
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241137Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3499
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0064
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0328
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ5-J8//

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LUANDA 001233 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR AO
SUBJECT: GENERAL WARD PROPOSES BILATERAL WORK PLAN TO 
INCREASE MILITARY COOPERATION 
 
REF: A. LUANDA 1137 
     ¶B. LUANDA 1135 
     ¶C. LUANDA 1121 
     ¶D. LUANDA 1126 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary:  Deputy Commander EUCOM, General William 
(Kip) Ward, proposed the drafting of a work plan to increase 
the pace and scope of bilateral military cooperation between 
the U.S. and Angola during his October 22-23, 2006, visit to 
Luanda.  The work plan will likely combine current 
cooperation initiatives with U.S.-proposals for the ACOTA and 
State Partnership programs and may include Angolan requests 
for increased assistance in the destruction of small arms, 
promotion of coastal security, English language training, and 
health programs.  The Angolans agreed to the work plan 
proposal, though they have not yet agreed to specific 
elements of that plan such as ACOTA or the State Partnership 
programs.  Embassy Luanda will write the first draft by the 
end of December, clearing through EUCOM, State, and DOD, and 
will forward to the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) soliciting its 
input and approval. 
 
¶2.  (U) Ward,s visit received wide and positive media 
coverage.  The press accurately reported Ward,s intention to 
improve the bilateral military relationship, offer capacity 
assistance to the FAA, and forge positive personal 
relationships with Angolan counterparts.  Ward met with Chief 
of the Armed Forces General Agostinho Nelumba Sanjar, 
Minister of Defense Kundi Paihama, Acting President of 
Parliament Joao Lourenco, and with American company 
representatives from Chevron, Esso, and Haliburton.  He was 
accompanied by Ambassador Efird, EUCOM Political Advisor 
Ambassador Yates, EUCOM officers, Embassy DATT and Embassy 
notetaker.  Ward,s visit was the first by a high-ranking 
U.S. military officer since the visit of Deputy Commander 
EUCOM General Wald in early-2004.  We look forward to future 
visits and regard them as extremely valuable in advancing the 
bilateral relationship.  End Summary. 
 
Increasing Mil-Mil Cooperation with Chief of Staff and MOD 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶3.  (U) Generals Ward and Sanjar discussed past, current, and 
potential future cooperation programs for close to two hours 
on October 23, 2006.  They reviewed the successes of the past 
year including IMET-funded training programs, ongoing 
HIV/AIDS cooperation, and the late-2005 Medflag exercise, 
whose banner still hangs proudly outside the Angolan naval 
base.  Ward proposed accelerating movement on ACOTA and 
presented the State Partnership program.  Sanjar agreed to 
talk further on ACOTA (see reftel C), eagerly stated the 
FAA,s interest in learning more about the State Partnership 
program, and requested further assistance in the safe 
destruction of small arms, English language training, 
improvement of coastal security, and the creation of a 
hygiene and epidemiology center.  The epidemiology center 
would improve FAA capacity to respond to epidemics such as 
cholera, Marburg virus, and avian flu.  In this endeavor, the 
FAA welcomes both technical training from specialists as well 
as donations of equipment.  Both Ward and Sanjar agreed the 
best way to advance the entire range of programs was to draft 
a non-binding work plan.  Ward proposed the Embassy and EUCOM 
undertake the first draft that would then be passed to the 
Angolans for their comments, input, and eventual approval. 
 
¶4.  (U) Sanjar further briefed Ward on the security situation 
in Cabinda (see reftel B) including regarding FAA security 
concerns for the upcoming elections in the DR Congo (see 
reftel A).  Sanjar informed Ward that the FAA is making 
progress in creating two Angolan stand-by peacekeeping (PKO) 
brigades ) one for SADC and one for ECCAS ) and plans a 
third to act as a PKO training brigade.  He added that the 
FAA is open to assistance from the U.S. in additional 
training and equipment for these forces.  Ward, thanking 
Sanjar for the briefing, emphasized that the U.S. seeks a 
partnership and fully respects Angolan sovereignty. 
 
¶5.  (U) Ward,s meeting with Minister of Defense Paihama was 
cordial, but brief due to the longer than expected meeting 
with Sanjar.  Paihama commented that he agreed with 
&everything said by Sanjar8 and said the &new atmosphere8 
of bilateral relations marks a good time for forward 
movement.  Noting the Angolans probably have more to ask than 
to give, Paihama highlighted the importance the GRA places on 
English language training.  He closed the meeting by adding 
 
LUANDA 00001233  002 OF 003 
 
 
that he would see Ward in Benin at the Gulf of Guinea 
ministerial where they could discuss further the relationship. 
 
Acting President of Parliament Expresses Interest in US 
Military Equipment 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶6.  (U) Acting President Joao Lourenco, a three-star general, 
gave Ward a briefing on the structure of parliament and 
outlined legislative improvements made by the ruling MPLA 
party.  One result, Lourenco claimed, was that the annual 
budget, which had regularly been passed in the spring of each 
budget year, was now being approved before the end of 
December. 
 
¶7.  (U) Lourenco asked the US delegation why Angola cannot 
buy American military equipment.  The Ambassador noted that 
Angola does actually buy American military equipment, but 
tends to do so through third parties such as the Israelis. 
The Ambassador added that Angola would be eligible for 
purchases of many types of US military equipment and that 
purchasing directly would likely save money.  Lourenco also 
asked how the US will conduct training for the FAA 
considering that the latter operates former Soviet military 
hardware.  Ward replied that US training is focused on 
capacity building and the improvement of procedures and 
management; therefore, it is not equipment-specific. 
 
American Petroleum Company Talk Security, China, 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶8.  (U) American company representatives from Chevron, Esso, 
and Haliburton told Ward, in an informal briefing at the 
Ambassador,s residence, that the greatest risk to future oil 
security in Angola is political instability.  Representatives 
added that they did not feel they were at great risk under 
current circumstances.  The representatives conceded that 
their assets are currently defenseless and are therefore soft 
targets, but rejected comparisons of Angola to Nigeria. 
Nigeria, they asserted, is a volatile mix of religions and 
ethnicities, whereas Angola is predominately Catholic with an 
emphasis on national identity rather than tribal identity. 
Angolans, they added, are also exhausted of war, violence, 
and kidnappings and are currently content to allow a 
trickle-down approach to distributing the oil wealth. 
 
¶9.  (U) Representatives were unconcerned about Chinese 
involvement in the market.  Angolans, they said, are likely 
to become increasingly hostile to Chinese workers as it 
becomes apparent the Chinese intend to immigrate rather than 
stay as temporary guest workers.  They added Angola feels 
overcharged for Chinese unskilled labor with prices 
approaching that of skilled western expatriate workers.  The 
representatives claimed Angolan perception of western 
companies benefits from corporate citizenship projects and 
higher percentages of Angolan labor.  For example, 70 percent 
of Haliburton,s workers are Angolan.  Nonetheless, 
representatives noted that obtaining skilled local labor 
within the country is difficult.  Instead, American companies 
run ongoing recruitment programs abroad hoping to attract the 
return of Angolans. 
 
¶10. (U) The representatives were cautiously optimistic for 
the future of Angola.  Government investments need to be made 
in education and health, which the companies themselves are 
assisting with their corporate responsibility programs.  The 
growth of small and medium-sized enterprises is important, 
they added, as well as the development of increased 
manufacturing capability.  Creation of a middle class is the 
real essential to insuring against the risk of political 
instability. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶11.  (U) The Ward visit appeared to be an unqualified 
success.  The EUCOM delegation was warmly received by GRA 
officials; press coverage was positive, accurate, and wide; 
the FAA was receptive to our offers of new assistance 
programs and requested more of our current training; and 
military figures who had previously shown us a cold shoulder 
were noticeably more receptive.  Follow-up on the cooperation 
work plan is critical to making this apparent success a 
concrete one. 
 
 
LUANDA 00001233  003 OF 003 
 
 
¶12.  (U) Quick advances will not come easy, however.  Our 
relationship will likely move forward unevenly due to 
competing interests within the GRA and the tendency for even 
routine matters to be relegated to the highest level of 
decision-making.  The FAA prides itself on being one of the 
most capable militaries on the continent, has aspirations for 
further professionalization, and recognizes the U.S. has much 
to offer in this regard.  General Ward rightly approached the 
FAA as an equal, not a junior, partner.  Proceeding as 
partners, and recognizing the FAA,s perceptions of its own 
national interests, we are more likely to be able to forge an 
effect partnership that leads to better regional security, an 
increasingly capable and reliable counterterrorism ally, and 
a potentially active and effective peacekeeping force.  End 
Comment. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Comment.  On October 24, 2006, the day after 
Ward's visit, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos 
transferred General Sanjar for his post as FAA chief of Staff 
to Deputy Minister of Defense responsible for Administration 
and Finances (reftel D). This move is one of the many 
personnel actions taken by th Presdient on October 24 and is 
likely the result of a long-standing request for transfer by 
Sanjar.  The transfer does not change the content of Sanjar's 
message. End Comment. 
 
¶14.  (U) This cable was cleared by the EUCOM Deputy 
Commander. 
 
EFIRD