VZCZCXRO4799
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0139/01 0471625
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 161625Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1281
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0619
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KMCA ECON EAID MZ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT GUEBUZA DISCUSSES ECONOMY WITH AMBASSADOR 
 
REF: MAPUTO 129 
 
MAPUTO 00000139  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Leslie Rowe for Reasons 1.4 (b+d) 
 
¶1.  (C)  SUMMARY: Following the February 10 accreditation 
Ceremony (reftel), the Ambassador met February 12 with 
President Armando Guebuza for an initial 20-minute courtesy 
call.  Guebuza described U.S.-Mozambican bilateral relations 
as "excellent" and provided perspectives on the challenges of 
piracy and narco-trafficking, Mozambique's role among 
Lusophone and SADC countries, and the importance of economic 
development to reduce absolute poverty in Mozambique.  The 
Ambassador agreed that the bilateral relationship was strong 
and noted that the United States intends to continue its 
assistance programs, particularly in health and economic 
development.  She highlighted the importance of attracting 
foreign direct investment from the United States in order to 
provide Mozambique with greater economic independence.  The 
Ambassador also said that she looked forward to working with 
Guebuza's Cabinet on some of the challenging issues faced by 
Mozambique.  The meeting was a cordial one that highlighted 
important areas of bilateral engagement and established a 
good foundation for the Ambassador's future interactions with 
Guebuza.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
UNITED STATES AND MOZAMBIQUE ENJOY EXCELLENT RELATIONS 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2.  (C)  A cordial and engaged President Armando Guebuza met 
with the Ambassador, DCM, and Poloff on February 12 for 
twenty minutes, two days after her February 10 accreditation 
ceremony (reftel).  Guebuza welcomed the Ambassador on behalf 
of the Mozambican people, saying that bilateral relations 
between the two governments and peoples were excellent.  He 
stated that the Government of Mozambique (GRM) takes great 
pleasure in its interactions with the U.S. Embassy at all 
levels.  A nostalgic Guebuza remembered fondly how in 
Mozambique's post-independence time of need, when the country 
suffered under great poverty and extreme famine, the United 
States provided the most assistance to his struggling nation. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
GUEBUZA ACKNOWLEDGES PIRACY AND NARCO-TRAFFICKING 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶3.  (C)  Guebuza said that Mozambique's intention was to 
continue to build on this partnership and work together 
towards Mozambique's development.  He said that his intention 
was to respond to challenges, use the past as a lesson, and 
look towards the future.  Regarding country-to-country 
partnerships, Guebuza expressed his conviction that he 
believes it is very important to have frank discussions, and 
to both listen and be heard.  Guebuza mentioned that there 
are some geo-political challenges for Mozambique including 
Somali piracy and narco-trafficking, challenges which would 
need to be met if the country were to rise out of poverty. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
STRONG TIES IN SADC AND AMONG LUSOPHONE COUNTRIES 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4.  (C)  Turning to multilateral organizations, Guebuza 
explained that Mozambique maintains strong relations with 
Lusophone nations, evidenced by the planned March arrival of 
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates.  He also outlined 
strong ties with Brazil, Angola, Sao Tome, Cabo Verde, and 
East Timor.  Guebuza expressed pride in Mozambique's "strong 
efforts" in SADC, and its good relationships with neighboring 
countries, with the exception of Madagascar.  He mentioned 
that he would receive later that day an AU delegation to 
discuss Madagascar.  Guebuza expressed his strong conviction 
that Madagascar must return to constitutional rule. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
POVERTY REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN, EDUCATION NEEDED 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶5.  (C)  Guebuza then turned to the economy, saying that 
Mozambique needs to take better advantage of AGOA.  He 
expressed great frustration that despite its natural 
resources and agricultural potential, Mozambique is still 
importing rice.  Guebuza said that he and his country were 
impatient to end poverty.  Waxing philosophically, he 
explained that he was born poor, grew-up poor, and remains 
poor, but does not want to see his children, among them 20 
 
MAPUTO 00000139  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
million Mozambicans, dogged by poverty.  Guebuza hoped that 
resource wealth would free the country from poverty, and 
appealed to the United States and other donors to help raise 
the country out of poverty. 
 
¶6.  (C)  On education in general, Guebuza said his people are 
improving, but management of people and resources is weak. 
He said that Mozambique is particularly lagging behind in 
technical education, which is needed to raise productivity 
levels in the country.  For example, following the turn-over 
of Cahora Bassa Dam (HCB) to Mozambique in 2007, a successful 
technical school was established in the nearby town of Songo 
to provide technical education in the energy sector.  He 
called for assistance in developing additional opportunities 
for technical education, including partnerships with U.S. 
institutions.  Guebuza also expressed interest in providing 
financial support for young entrepreneurs whose university 
projects could be submitted to banks for funding, for example. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
BILATERAL GOVERNMENT & PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP TO GROW 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶7.  (C)  The Ambassador responded that President Obama often 
refers to African leaders as partners, and that the United 
States wants to continue its partnership in Mozambique in 
areas such as health and economic development.  Regarding 
international assistance, she observed that over the past 
decade, Mozambique attracted considerable donor resources 
inspired by confidence in direction of the country.  Equally 
important, she continued, was attracting foreign private 
sector investment, noting the potential for U.S. companies in 
Mozambique, like Anadarko Petroleum and Chiquita Brands 
International, to bolster the country's economic development 
and allow for greater economic independence.  Commending 
Guebuza for opening the 2009 U.S. Trade and Investment 
Conference in Maputo, the Ambassador mentioned that promoting 
trade, both bilaterally and regionally, would also be a 
focus.  Alluding to the ongoing negotiations with the G-19 
donors on troubling democracy issues, the Ambassador stated 
that the United States shares many of the concerns of other 
donors and she is interested in working on them with 
Guebuza's Cabinet. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
COMMENT: GUEBUZA READY TO GET TO WORK? 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C)  In a telling moment, a reflective Guebuza said that 
he only had four years and 11 months remaining in his 
presidential term to help Mozambique rise out of poverty.  He 
seemed genuinely appreciative of U.S. assistance and ready to 
work with the Embassy on a wide range of topics.  The meeting 
was a cordial one and established a good foundation for the 
Ambassador's future interactions with Guebuza.  With the 
commencement of Guebuza's second term, a new cabinet (even if 
most of the Ministers remained unchanged), and a 
newly-arrived U.S. Ambassador, there should be new 
opportunities for constructive bilateral engagement even as 
the G-19 Donor Group, of which the United States is part, 
prepares to negotiate with the GRM on the more difficult 
questions such as democracy and governance. 
ROWE