VZCZCXRO1073
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAN #0853/01 2391118
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271118Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0265
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000853 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO PEACE CORPS FOR DIRECTOR TSCHETTER 
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, and EB/IFD 
PARIS FOR D'ELIA 
PRETORIA FOR POLCOUNS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID CN
SUBJECT:  COMORAN FM JAFFAR REITERATES PRO-AMERICAN STANCE 
 
REF:  ANTANANARIVO 815 
 
ANTANANARI 00000853  001.4 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Foreign Minister Ahmed Said Ben Jaffar welcomed 
the Ambassador to the region, encouraging him to visit the Comoros 
to deliver credentials and see the country at the first opportunity. 
 Jaffar expressed frustration that the African Union (AU) had not 
upheld commitments with regard to isolating renegade Anjouan 
president Bacar, and said a diplomat might be posted to Addis Ababa 
to advocate the Comoros' cause.  As top Union fundraiser, Jaffar 
explained the Anjouan stalemate was confounding substantial debt 
relief plans for the Comoros.  He also made clear that the 
preoccupation with Anjouan was preventing President Sambi and his 
government from making progress on his development agenda, which may 
soon jeopardize Sambi's tenure.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) The Ambassador took advantage of Comoran Minister of External 
Affairs Ahmed Said Ben Jaffar's presence in Madagascar August 24 to 
invite him to lunch.  Comoran Ambassador to Madagascar Charif 
Halidy, DCM, and PolEcon Chief (Notetaker) joined. 
 
"Anglo-Saxon Pragmatism" Welcome 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Minister Jaffar restated the Union of the Comoros 
Government's pro-American policy, welcoming any U.S. effort to 
resolve the ongoing crisis in Anjouan and to provide long term U.S. 
development assistance.  He emphasized that the very U.S. presence, 
in the form of our local staff person in Moroni and frequent trips 
by Embassy officers, provides encouragement.  Lauding "Anglo-Saxon 
pragmatism," Jaffar noted the Union Government appreciates American 
involvement in the Comoros to diversify away from French influence 
and balance other partners. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) As Comoran officials often have, Minister Jaffar asked 
that Peace Corps return to the Comoros.  He said the efforts and 
friendship of volunteers were warmly welcomed by the people before 
the program closed and are fondly remembered still.  Jaffar also 
emphasized the Comoros must seek Millennium Challenge Corporation 
opportunities, and suggested President Sambi may travel to 
Washington from New York in September to see Ambassador Danilovich 
if possible. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  The Minister was candid that the Union courts close ties 
to the Arab League and other partners, but emphasized these 
relationships are consistent with friendship with the United States. 
 Neither defending nor criticizing Iran, Jaffar downplayed the 
significance of that relationship. 
 
African Union and Anjouan 
------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Noting he has traveled to most AU meetings on the Comoros, 
Minister Jaffar expressed disappointment the regional bloc was not 
enforcing its own declarations about Anjouan.  He said the Union of 
the Comoros will soon place a diplomat from the Embassy in Pretoria 
in Addis Ababa as a liaison to the African Union.  As in our recent 
meeting with President Sambi (Reftel), Jaffar said the Union 
Government is planning action against Anjouan in the indefinite 
future.  The July-August "Grand Marriage" season is coming to an 
end, and Ramadan begins soon; Jaffar intimated the Union would not 
take action during either of these periods. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Jaffar reported that thousands of Anjouanese have already 
fled Mohamed Bacar's tyranny, arriving by boat in Moheli and Grande 
Comore.  He further stated that pro-Union contacts in Anjouan have 
pledged they will join any attack on Bacar, "when they see a Union 
boat arriving, they will turn on Bacar's militia."  Minister Jaffar 
repeated what we have heard:  That Bacar rules by force and is very 
unpopular among Anjouanese.  Bacar is especially resented for 
looting President Sambi's recently restored offices in Anjouan, 
destroying new vehicles and stealing equipment. 
 
Donor Delays 
------------ 
 
¶8. (SBU) Minister Jaffar, whose portfolio includes Cooperation, 
bemoaned an IMF decision to stall talks on debt relief because of 
the Anjouan crisis.  He reported the World Bank, African Development 
Bank (ADB), and IMF are prepared to forgive 70 percent of the 
Comoros' debt, requiring the Union government find funding to pay 
the other 30 percent.  Jaffar noted that Anjouan's Port was funded 
with ADB loans, and thus contact with that island government is 
needed to pursue debt relief. 
 
ANTANANARI 00000853  002.4 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶9. (SBU) COMMENT:  Minister Jaffar is an energetic and articulate 
advocate for his country, traveling frequently to lobby for help 
dealing with Anjouan and -- with any time left over -- for 
development assistance.  He makes a persuasive case that, absent 
external assistance, Comoran development is likely to remain in a 
very low gear.  END COMMENT. 
 
MARQUARDT