VZCZCXRO7026
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0424/01 2001055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191055Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3175
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0017
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3561

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000424 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR AF/S, IIP; PARIS FOR LINDA COWHER AND MARION SALVANET; 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KDEM KCOR ECON LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: SPEAKER PROGRAM EVALUATION - MR. ROBERT SMOLIK, 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
 
REF: LINDA COWHER E-MAIL (5/21/07) 
 
MASERU 00000424  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  From July 13-17, Embassy Maseru hosted 
international speaker Mr. Robert Smolik, currently the State 
Department's Diplomat in Residence at the Gerald R. Ford School 
of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.  Mr. Smolik's 
presentations on democracy, good governance, and anti-corruption 
came at a timely point in Lesotho's history when political 
turbulence has forced many Basotho to delve into these issues. 
Although Mr. Smolik's busy travel schedule could only 
accommodate one and a half program days in Maseru, post assesses 
that he had a great impact on those he addressed.  Particularly 
valuable sessions included his presentation to a conference put 
together by the local NGO "Transformation Resource Center" and a 
lively discussion session brought together by Lesotho's 
Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offenses.  We rate Mr. 
Smolik's program highly and recommend him for future speaking 
engagements.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. Below is Embassy Maseru's official review of Mr. Robert 
Smolik's program. 
 
¶A.  NAME OF SPEAKER AND DATE OF PROGRAM 
 
Mr. Robert Smolik, an FSO currently serving as a Diplomat in 
Residence at the University of Michigan, conducted a program on 
democracy, and good governance, and anti-corruption in Maseru, 
Lesotho, on July 13-17, 2007. 
 
¶B.  BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE TOPICS, VENUES, AND AUDIENCES ADDRESSED 
 
Embassy Maseru's Public Affairs Section (PAS) arranged three 
major speaking engagements (and two media appearances, see 
below) for Mr. Smolik during his 1.5 programming days in Maseru. 
 PAS successfully partnered with three local institutions to 
allow Mr. Smolik access to Lesotho's civil society, economic 
development planners, and anti-corruption law enforcement 
personnel.  His presentations brought to Lesotho a global 
perspective on democracy, good governance, economic development, 
and anti-corruption strategies.  He gave presentations at: 
 
-- The National Convention Center, hosted by the Transformation 
Resource Center (audience: civil society groups, political 
parties, faith-based organizations, the Independent Electoral 
Commission) 
-- The Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) 
Boardroom, hosted by the LNDC (audience: LNDC staff members) 
-- Lehakoe Club, hosted by the Directorate on Corruption and 
Economic Offenses (DCEO) (audience: members of the Lesotho 
Mounted Police Force's Child Protection Unit, Lesotho Revenue 
Authority agents, Police Complaints Commission representatives, 
police Anti-Corruption Unit officers, and DCEO staff members) 
 
¶C.  AUDIENCE SIZE 
 
Mr. Smolik directly addressed 300-400 individuals, and reached 
many more through mass media outreach (see below).  General 
audience numbers were as anticipated or greater.  The 
Transformation Resource Center event packed a large room at 
Lesotho's National Convention Center to capacity. 
 
¶D.  EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPEAKER IN COMMUNICATION OF INTENDED 
MESSAGES TO TARGET AUDIENCE 
 
Mr. Smolik's participation in the Transformation Resource 
Center's "State of Democracy in Lesotho" forum was well 
received, and he fielded a great number of questions from the 
audience.  Mr. Smolik stood his ground during a healthy debate 
with a professor from Lesotho's National University who was a 
fellow speaker at the event.  When asked difficult questions 
about the situation in Zimbabwe and the use of U.S. military 
force, Mr. Smolik responded well.  His experience working with 
the OECD's anti-corruption mechanisms came in handy at the 
Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offenses event, and he 
was able to offer concrete suggestions regarding steps Lesotho 
could take to confront graft. 
 
¶E.  QUALITY OF IIP SUPPORT 
 
Embassy Maseru is greatly appreciative of ARS Paris's support 
during the entirety of this program.  The lines of communication 
between our post and Linda Cower were open and effective.  As a 
small "PD-light" post with limited resources, Embassy Maseru is 
delighted to have been offered this opportunity.  We were in 
frequent communication with Linda Cower and Marion Salvanet 
regarding Mr. Smolik's schedule, and appreciated their 
arrangement of a pre-departure briefing for Mr. Smolik. 
 
¶F.  IMMEDIATE RESULTS/IMPACT 
 
 
MASERU 00000424  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
While highlighting the importance of good governance, Mr. 
Smolik's presentations directly addressed two of Embassy 
Maseru's Mission Performance Plan goals: 1) democratic practices 
and systems; and 2) economic growth and development.  This 
program fulfilled a number of current post objectives, 
including: 1) sharing good governance expertise at a time when 
Lesotho is experiencing political turbulence; 2) sharing 
economic development strategies gained from the experiences of 
other countries; and 3) sharing anti-corruption strategies 
tested in the United States and other nations.  Mr. Smolik 
reached out a diverse group of individuals and organizations, 
all of whom have a vested interest in the future of democracy, 
good governance, and economic development in Lesotho.  He 
emphasized the necessity of including all sectors of society in 
efforts to build a good democracy, as well as the importance of 
cooperative work between NGO's, religious groups, public service 
providers, government departments, and ordinary citizens. 
 
¶G.  PRESS PLACEMENT REPORTING 
 
Embassy Maseru arranged an interview with Mr. Smolik on Ultimate 
FM, a youth-oriented government-owned radio station.  The 
interview was broadcast live on Monday, July 16.  Embassy Maseru 
also arranged an interview with Mr. Smolik on Lesotho Television 
(LTV), the nation's sole domestic television station.  We 
estimate the viewership of LTV at approximately 30,000. 
ANDERSON