US embassy cable - 04ABUJA571

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ENCOURAGING DIALOGUE AND ENGAGEMENT ON ZIMBABWE

Identifier: 04ABUJA571
Wikileaks: View 04ABUJA571 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abuja
Created: 2004-04-02 05:38:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: PREL PGOV ZI NI
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000571 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ZI, NI 
SUBJECT: ENCOURAGING DIALOGUE AND ENGAGEMENT ON ZIMBABWE 
 
REF: STATE 44610 
 
Classified By: A/DCM CLAUDIA E. ANYASO FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
1. (C) After Charge had requested meetings over the past 
month with the Foreign Minister and UnderSecretary for 
African Affairs, A/DCM was given an appointment and delivered 
reftel demarche on Zimbabwe to MFA African Affairs Director 
Steve A. Owolabi on March 26.  Owolabi characterized 
Nigeria's relationship with Zimbabwe as having been strained 
since the GOZ's December decision to pull out of the 
Commonwealth.  Nevertheless, he noted that Nigeria's 
relationship with Zimbabwe historically has been good and the 
GON hopes to continue to work towards a solution to 
Zimbabwe's political and economic problems. 
 
2.  (C) When asked about steps the GON was willing to take on 
Zimbabwe, Owolabi could not offer specifics and only 
commented that the GON believed publicizing its efforts on 
Zimbabwe would only make it more difficult to work with the 
GOZ and to reach a settlement with Zimbabwe's political 
opposition.  Owolabi was not able to comment on possible 
steps other African states and institutions might take with 
regard to Zimbabwe either, nor provide GON recommended 
benchmarks for gauging progress toward the resolution of the 
political crisis in Zimbabwe.  He asked for a non-paper, and 
post gave him a slightly updated set from the reftel talking 
points. 
 
3.  (U) Embassy followed up with the MFA Permanent Secretary 
March 31, and will continue with other senior MFA officials 
in the next week. 
ROBERTS 

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