US embassy cable - 04MAPUTO293

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000293 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
E.O. 129958: N/A 
TAGS: ABLD, MZ, NEC 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES NEC WITH FOREIGN 
MINISTER 
 
REF: 03 MAPUTO 1746 
 
1. (SBU) Summary. Despite the confusion and 
potential loss of the Four Seasons site as a potential 
NEC, Post received assurances from the Foreign Minister 
that this was a top priority for the MFA. Post 
expressed its continuing interest in part of the Four 
Seasons site, or potentially FACIM, and reiterated that 
time is running out. Post awaits the findings of a 
newly-created working group on this issue. End 
summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Ambassador, A/MgmtOff, and Post attorney 
Sam Levy met with Foreign Minister Simao and MFA desk 
officer Eduardo Mutorropa on March 3 regarding ongoing 
efforts to obtain a suitable NEC site. (In a February 
27 meeting, Tourism Minister Sumbana, whose Ministry 
controls the site, told post that the Four Seasons site 
was not available as it had been sold last year to a 
concessionaire formed by SOTUR and IMOBCI. Post 
believes final legal arrangements are progressing 
though not yet complete; however, Tourism apparently is 
sticking with its decision to sell to the 
concessionaire.) The Ambassador expressed deep concern 
to Simao about the apparent loss of the Four Seasons 
site for the NEC. She urged the GRM to reconsider its 
pending deal with SOTUR and instead push for the land 
to be partitioned, giving the USG four hectares and 
leaving the other two for other suitable commercial 
development. We reiterated that this and other likely 
delays could result in the project being cancelled, and 
requested that the MFA be an advocate on behalf of Post 
needs and the sole interlocutor within the GRM. 
 
3. (SBU) The Foreign Minister explained that when he 
had been looking at property for the new convention 
center he was told the Four Seasons site was available. 
He was unaware at the previous meeting with Post 
(reftel) that the site had been "sold". Upon receiving 
a report about Post's meeting from the Ministry of 
Tourism, he had created a working group to determine 
the best course of action. That working group, under 
the direction of MFA, was holding its first meeting 
concurrently. Simao reported that he would make this 
issue a "high priority" and that he had a "vested 
interested in seeing that the U.S. gets that property." 
Above the Ministerial level, he said there were two 
more levels of appeal -- the Prime Minister and the 
President. 
 
4. (SBU) Noting the need for and the cost of 
demolition, Simao said SOTUR would have a hard time 
financing their project. (Note: SOTUR's plans as shown 
to Post last year involve rehabilitating the existing 
24-story structure.) Though the GRM working group is 
searching for a solution that be "win/win" in which 
both the USG and SOTUR could get access the site, Simao 
suggested that Post might eventually be asked to 
consider negotiating directly with SOTUR. Mutorropa 
commented that the agreement SOTUR has with the GRM 
would only permit tourist development, which would make 
it difficult for SOTUR to negotiate with us on the 
property without obtaining additional time-consuming 
paper work and waivers from the government. Based on 
recent contact Post attorney has had with SOTUR, we are 
not convinced they would in fact be interested in 
negotiating with the USG. Simao said that the site 
seemed cursed, as five previous attempts to develop it 
had all fallen through. 
 
5. (SBU) As a second option, the Ambassador raised the 
possibility of securing a portion of FACIM for the NEC. 
Despite an initial response that FACIM was "not 
possible," Simao later conceded he would look at the 
possibility of relocating the trade exhibition site 
elsewhere, providing four hectares for the USG, and 
using the remainder for the planned "Ministry row." 
 
6. (SBU) Simao, aware of the urgency of the issue, 
promised to get back to us "soon." Post will follow up 
with the Foreign Minister over the course of the next 
two weeks, during which we recommend not pursuing new 
sites with the GRM. 
LA LIME