VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTO #0288/01 0571044
ZNY CCCCC ZZH (CCY ADX0377F1E WSC6834 611)
R 261044Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0063
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0351
RUCBSAA/COMNAVSURFLA NORFOLK VA
RUENAAA/CNO WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 000288 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y  (CONFIDENTIAL CABLE WITH PORTION OF S/NF) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PMIL MZ
SUBJECT: GROWING USG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOZAMBICAN NAVY 
 
REF: A. MAPUTO 1081 
     ¶B. MAPUTO 1082 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd Chapman for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( 
d) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: Rear Admiral William P. Loeffler, Director 
of Strategy, Plans and Resources for United States Naval 
Forces Europe and Africa, visited Mozambique in conjunction 
with the February 6-13 port call of the USS ROBERT G. 
BRADLEY.  Rear Admiral Loeffler discussed the Government of 
Mozambique's (GRM) efforts to protect its extensive coastline 
with the GRM's Vice Minister of Defense Augusto Mondlane, 
Vice Chief of Defense Agostinho Mondlane, Director of Defense 
Policy Brigadier General Macajo, and Commander of the Navy 
Contra Almirante Patricio Yotamo, participated in a Maritime 
Domain Donor Harmonization Roundtable, discussed Counter 
Narcotics and Terrorism issues with senior Embassy staff, and 
gave an exclusive interview with national press.  Mozambican 
Minister of Defense Filipe Nhussi, accompanied by Captain 
Nicholas Holman and Commander Clinton Carroll, toured the 
BRADLEY on her last day in port.  The crew of the BRADLEY and 
the accompanying "Top Brass" band carried out a successful 
and demanding schedule of public outreach works and events. 
The BRADLEY visit was the second port call by a US warship to 
Maputo since Mozambican independence and the first ever pier 
side visit.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
SECURE COASTLINE LEADS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Rear Admiral Loeffler discussed the US Navy's global 
maritime strategy and Mozambique's efforts to protect its 
lengthy coastline with the Mozambican Vice Minister of 
Defense, Director of National Defense Policy, Director of 
Defense Intelligence, and Commander of the Navy.  The Rear 
Admiral emphasized the linkage between maritime safety and 
security and economic growth and prosperity for the people of 
Mozambique.  The Vice Minister agreed, noting that enhanced 
security and citizen welfare are two of the primary goals of 
the GRM.  The Vice Minister expressed satisfaction with 
USG-Mozambican military cooperation, making particular note 
of the recently dedicated Maputo Military Day Clinic, the AIS 
system, as well as the various boats and training provided to 
the Mozambican Navy. 
 
-------------------------- 
MARITIME DOMAIN ROUNDTABLE 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Rear Admiral Loeffler and the Charge d'Affaires 
hosted a roundtable with representatives from the Embassies 
of India, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Portugal, Norway, 
South Africa, along with the World Wildlife Fund.  The Rear 
Admiral summarized USG efforts to improve maritime safety and 
security in South and East Africa, including Mozambique, 
focusing on the U.S. Navy's maritime strategy.  The ensuing 
discussion identified opportunities for harmonization among 
the Norwegian, Portuguese, and the Dutch maritime activities. 
 Attendees called for future discussions to facilitate and 
synchronize multinational efforts. 
 
------------------------------- 
COUNTER NARCOTICS AND TERRORISM 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C/NF) At a special country team meeting, the Charge 
d'Affaires and members of the Embassy Senior Staff presented 
information on the trafficking of narcotics and possible 
linkages to terrorists active in Mozambique.  Rear Admiral 
Loeffler noted the potential for growth of terrorism and 
smuggling in the country, particularly the vulnerability of 
Mozambique's vast maritime border to trafficking, identified 
areas of mutual cooperation and support, encouraging a whole 
of government approach to coordination of activities. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
NATIONAL PRESS INTERVIEW ON AFRICA COMMAND 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (U) The Embassy arranged a press roundtable for the Rear 
Admiral to discuss bilateral defense relations and also to 
launch--for the first time in the public sphere in 
Mozambique--the Africa Partnership Station (APS).  During the 
45-minute discussion, the Rear Admiral engaged 
 
representatives from national television TVM, national radio 
station Radio Mocambique, leading independent television STV, 
national wire service AIM, Reuters, AFP and a new weekly 
newspaper A Verdade.  Subsequent press reports were 
neutral-to-positive and focused on the training capabilities 
that the US military is providing Mozambique, APS as a 
program and the visiting ship itself.  While the first 
question to the Rear Admiral (from TVM) was on piracy off the 
coast of Somalia, press reports have not covered that 
discussion.  (NOTE: Journalists also asked the question to 
the Navy commander during the media ship tour on February 10; 
both responses mentioned the severity of the issue but that 
the USS ROBERT BRADLEY itself was not on an anti-piracy 
mission. END NOTE). 
 
------------------------------ 
COMMUNITY RELATIONS ACTIVITIES 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  (U) The Mozambican Minister of Defense received a special 
tour conducted by TF363 Commodore and the BRADLEY's 
Commanding Officer.  The Minister spent more than an hour on 
board the Bradley during her last day in port.  Office calls 
with the newly elected mayor of Maputo by the TF363 Commodore 
and the BRADLEY's Commanding Officer marked the mayor's first 
foreign delegation office call. 
 
¶7.  (U) USS ROBERT G BRADLEY crew and the US Naval Forces 
Europe and Africa band "Top Brass" carried out an active and 
highly successful community relations program.  The band gave 
ten concerts drawing as many as a thousand spectators from 
the local communities.  Over one-third of the ship's company 
participated in repair and refurbishment projects at the Arco 
Iris orphanage, delivering two pallets of medical and hygiene 
products donated through Project Handclasp; and at the Hamza 
Institute, a Muslim community center, painting classrooms and 
interacting with students.  A blood drive supported by 
BRADLEY and Embassy personnel resulted in over 120 units 
donated.  100 to 150 BRADLEY sailors informally represented 
the United States on liberty each day of the visit. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
COMMENT: READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Rear Admiral Loeffler's visit reinforced the USG's 
support of improved maritime capability and capacity and 
coordinated counterterrorism efforts.   Additionally, it 
afforded an opportunity for the senior leadership of Naval 
Forces Africa to dispel many of the myths and misconceptions 
regarding the US Africa Command and its component 
headquarters.  The visit was well-received by the Mozambican 
military and the international diplomatic community; an 
ongoing series of visits by senior leaders should further 
lessen concerns among some in Mozambique of US Africa 
Command's purpose in the region. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The highly successful visit of USS ROBERT G BRADLEY 
and Rear Admiral Loeffler complement ongoing Embassy and 
NAVAFRICA efforts to improve maritime safety and security in 
Mozambique, and highlights the importance of future programs, 
including FY09 Section 1206 maritime proposals. 
Implementation of these proposals will significantly improve 
the GRM's ability to assert control over its national waters, 
and deter illegal access for trafficking and terrorist 
activities. 
Chapman