US embassy cable - 01HARARE1999

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001999 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 06/26/11 
TAGS: PREL, ZI 
SUBJECT: EU FRUSTRATED AT LACK OF PROGRESS IN DIALOGUE WITH 
ZIMBABWE, THROWS DOWN GAUNTLET 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AUBREY HOOKS.  REASONS: 1.5 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  01999  261520Z 
(B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C) THE SWEDES, AS EU PRESIDENT, HAVE LED THE EU TROIKA'S 
DISCUSSIONS IN HARARE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE UNDER ARTICLE 
8 OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENT, WHICH BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR.  THE 
TROIKA'S EFFORTS TO ENGAGE THE GOZ IN SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT 
ITS RANGE OF CONCERNS, HOWEVER, HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH MFA 
PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE, THE SENIOR GOZ INTERLOCUTOR IN 
THIS EXERCISE. 
 
2.  (C) POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF WAS INFORMED BY HIS SWEDISH 
COUNTERPART -- IRINA SCHOULGIN -- ON JUNE 26 THAT THE EU'S GENERAL 
AFFAIRS COUNCIL (COMPRISING FOREIGN MINISTERS) IS FED UP WITH THE 
GOZ'S REFUSAL TO ENGAGE SERIOUSLY WITH THE EU.  THE COUNCIL DECIDED 
IN BRUSSELS ON JUNE 25 TO DELIVER A TOUGH WARNING TO THE GOZ AND 
INSTRUCTED THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR IN HARARE TO DELIVER A LETTER TO 
THE GOVERNMENT CONVEYING THE FOLLOWING POINTS: 
 
--NOTING LACK OF SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN ITS DIALOGUE WITH ZIMBABWE; 
--EXPRESSING DEEP CONCERN OVER DEVELOPMENTS HERE, CALLING FOR: 
A) AN END TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE; 
B) AN INVITATION TO THE EU TO MONITOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION; 
C) CONCRETE ACTIONS TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF THE MASS MEDIA; 
D) INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY AND RESPECT FOR ITS DECISIONS; 
E) AN END TO ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF PROPERTY; 
--PROMISING TO FOLLOW CLOSELY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ABOVE AREAS DURING 
THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES IF SUBSTANTIAL 
PROGRESS IS NOT ACHIEVED. 
 
3.  (C) THE LAST POINT, SCHOULGIN NOTED, IS A CLEAR THREAT TO MOVE 
TO ARTICLE 96, WHICH COULD REQUIRE THE SUSPENSION OF ALL EU AID TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  01999  261520Z 
ZIMBABWE, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL.  THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR HOPES TO 
DELIVER THE LETTER TO FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE ON JUNE 27 AND 
SUBSEQUENTLY PLANS TO RELEASE IT PUBLICLY. 
 
4.  (C) ON ANOTHER MATTER, SCHOULGIN REPORTED THAT EU GREAT LAKES 
ENVOY AJELLO IS IN TOWN TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DRC.  HE MET 
WITH FM MUDENGE ON JUNE 25 AND WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE ON 
JUNE 26.  AMBASSADOR HOOKS PLANS TO DINE WITH AJELLO THE EVENING OF 
JUNE 26 AND WILL SOLICIT A READOUT OF HIS HARARE DISCUSSIONS. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
5.  (C) ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT SEEN A COPY OF THE EU'S LETTER, THE 
DRAFT LANGUAGE DESCRIBED BY OUR SWEDISH COLLEAGUE IS VERY STRONG 
INDEED. ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF EU DIPLOMATS HERE, THE TWO-MONTH 
DEADLINE IS FIRM; WITHOUT ACHIEVEMENT OF "SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS" 
DURING THAT PERIOD, THE EU APPEARS DETERMINED TO MOVE TO ARTICLE 
96.  IT IS REFRESHING TO SEE THE EU TAKING SUCH A HARD LINE. 
ALTHOUGH WE ARE SKEPTICAL THAT THE LETTER WILL ELICIT SIGNIFICANT 
PROGRESS, IT WILL PUT THE GOZ ON NOTICE THAT IT FACES SERIOUS 
CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT TAKING CONCRETE STEPS TO ADDRESS EU CONCERNS. 
 
HOOKS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
>