US embassy cable - 00HARARE4306

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Identifier:	00HARARE4306
Wikileaks:	View 00HARARE4306 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Harare
Created:	2000-08-03 10:11:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PREL PGOV MOPS BY ZI
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 004306 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR A/S RICE AND PDAS POWELL 
 
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH 
 
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE 
 
USAID FOR GAMBINO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/10 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MOPS, BY, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZUMA SETS UP WOLPE/MANDELA MEETING 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY SPECIAL ENVOY HOWARD WOLPE FOR 
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) IN A 8/3 TELCON, SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ZUMA 
DEBRIEFED SPECIAL ENVOY WOLPE ON HER 8/1 MEETING WITH 
PRESIDENT MANDELA.  SHE INDICATED SHE TOLD MANDELA THAT 
SHE FELT IT WAS HER DUTY TO RAISE WITH MANDELA THE VARIOUS 
CONCERNS ABOUT THE BURUNDI PROCESS THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT 
TO HER ATTENTION BY S/E WOLPE AND OTHERS.  MANY OBSERVERS 
DOUBTED THAT A SIGNED AGREEMENT COULD BE COMPLETED BY 
AUGUST 28; MOREOVER, SHE HAD RECEIVED INDICATIONS OF 
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED TENSIONS ON THE GROUND IN BURUNDI. 
SHE TOLD MANDELA THAT SHE KNEW THAT WOLPE PLANNED TO SEE 
THE FORMER PRESIDENT A FEW WEEKS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT IT 
WAS HER SUGGESTION THAT MANDELA SPEAK WITH WOLPE 
IMMEDIATELY.  THAT WAY, MANDELA COULD DECIDE IF THE 
PROBLEMS THAT LAY IN THE WAY OF A SIGNED AGREEMENT ON 
AUGUST 28 COULD BE RESOLVED BY THEN, OR IF IT MIGHT 
BE BETTER TO CHANGE THE INTENDED SIGNING DATE. 
 
2.  (C) ZUMA SAID SHE UNDERSCORED WITH MANDELA THE GENERAL 
PERCEPTION THAT MANDELA HAD BROUGHT THE PROCESS A LONG 
WAY TOWARD A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION, AND THAT MOST 
OBSERVERS STILL BELIEVED AN AGREEMENT WAS ACHIEVABLE BY 
THE END OF THE YEAR.  THERE WERE, HOWEVER, MANY DOUBTS 
ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF AN AUGUST 28 SIGNING CEREMONY. 
 
3.  (C) THE FOREIGN MINISTER INDICATED THAT MANDELA WAS 
SURPRISINGLY RECEPTIVE.  HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE HAD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  04306  031635Z 
HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT THE BURUNDIAN PARTIES OFTEN SAY 
'YES' OUT OF THEIR RESPECT FOR THE FACILITATOR, AND NOT 
OUT OF CONVICTION.  HE SAID THAT HE WOULD BE 
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN S/E WOLPE'S ASSESSMENT. 
 
4.  (C) ZUMA CLOSED BY SAYING SHE FELT THAT WOLPE'S 
SCHEDULED AFTERNOON MEETING WITH MANDELA WOULD BE AN 
OPPORTUNITY "TO PUT ALL OF THE CARDS QUITE OPENLY ON 
THE TABLE." 
 
IRVING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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