VZCZCXRO3658
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHPA RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0183 0821206
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231206Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2809
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3160

UNCLAS MASERU 000183 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ZI LT
SUBJECT: SADC DOUBLE TROIKA PRESS RELEASE: MASERU - MARCH 22, 2007 
 
REF: MASERU 177; MASERU 160 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1. On March 22, Embassy Maseru received a diplomatic note from 
Lesotho's Ministry of Foreign Affairs extending an invitation to 
all Diplomatic Missions in Maseru to send representatives to 
attend a media briefing by Timothy Thahane, the Lesotho Minister 
of Finance and Development Planning, who is also the Chairman of 
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of 
Ministers. The note indicated that the briefing was meant to 
inform members of the Diplomatic Corps and media houses about 
the Council proceedings, since the sessions had been held behind 
closed doors. 
 
 ¶2. The press release by Minister Thahane reads as follows: 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
Taking advantage of the SADC Council of Ministers Meeting in 
Maseru on March 22, the SADC Double Troika met to consider the 
economic, political and security situation in Southern Africa. 
They: 
 
 
-- Recognized the initiative which the Chairperson of the Organ 
on Politics, Defense and Security, H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, 
President of the United Republic of Tanzania took to visit the 
Republic of Zimbabwe for briefing and consultation on recent 
developments there. 
 
 
-- Reviewed the reports by local and international media and 
statements by various capitals regarding the situation in the 
SADC region. 
 
 
In view of these, the SADC Double Troika underscored the 
importance of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security 
intensifying its consultations on the political and economic 
challenges confrontation the region. 
 
 
END TEXT. 
 
¶3. The Minister did not state what had transpired during 
President Kikwete's trip to Zimbabwe, but noted that the press 
briefing had commenced late due to discussions amongst ministers 
on the trip.  Note: The SADC Troika is composed of Botswana 
(out-going Chair), Lesotho (Chair) and Zambia (in-coming Chair). 
The SADC Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security 
has Namibia (in-coming Chair), Tanzania (Chair) and Angola 
(out-going Chair). 
 
PERRY