US embassy cable - 01VATICAN4030

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 004030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR: EUR/WE (SDEAN); AF/S (DELISA, KUSNITZ) 
 
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 128/01 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/11 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, AN, VT 
SUBJECT: ANGOLA PEACE: SANT'EGIDIO FORWARDS UNITA PROPOSAL 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE JOSEPH MERANTE, REASONS E.O. 12958 
(B), (D). 
 
1.  (U)  THIS CABLE CONTAINS A GUIDANCE REQUEST -- PLEASE 
SEE PARA FOUR. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  04030  011305Z 
2.  (C)  SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR AND 
SOMETIME AFRICAN-CONFLICT-MEDIATOR DON MATTEO ZUPPI ASKED 
CHARGE AND A/DCM TO COFFEE 7/30 TO SEEK USG VIEWS AND 
SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL TO REINVIGORATE PROCESS FOR ANGOLA 
PEACE.  DON MATTEO SAID HE HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY AN 
UNNAMED "GOOD CONTACT" IN UNITA WHO HAD SHARED A PROPOSAL 
FOR STOPPING HOSTILITIES AND INITIATING MEDIATION.  DON 
MATTEO SAID THE UNITA OFFICIAL PROPOSED THAT SANT'EGIDIO 
HOST A SMALL "SECRET" MEETING OF UNITA AND GOA 
REPRESENTATIVES AT SANT'EGIDIO HEADQUARTERS IN ROME.  THE 
PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING WOULD BE TO ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK 
FOR A CEASEFIRE, AFTER WHICH UNITA WOULD BE WILLING TO 
ENTER INTO A BROADER MEDIATION FOR DISARMAMENT AND 
RECONCILIATION.  DON MATTEO ASKED FOR USG VIEWS, BUT 
PARTICULARLY WANTED THE USG TO GAIN GOA BLESSING FOR THIS 
INITIAL MEETING IN ROME.  HE SAID THAT, WITH PRESIDENT DOS 
SANTOS' AGREEMENT, THE FIRST MEETING COULD TAKE PLACE AS 
EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. 
 
3.  (C)  COMMENT: AS LONG-TIME AFRICA WATCHERS KNOW, 
SANT'EGIDIO HAS A PROVEN BUT FADING TRACK RECORD OF 
SUCCESSFUL CONFLICT MEDIATION IN AFRICA, HAVING FACILITATED 
THE END TO MOZAMBIQUE'S CIVIL WAR IN 1990-92.  EVER SINCE, 
SANT'EGIDIO HAS SOUGHT, BUT FAILED, TO DUPLICATE THAT 
SUCCESS BY HELPING RESOLVE SOME OTHER INTER-COMMUNAL 
CONFLICT.  DON MATTEO HIMSELF REMAINS VERY ACTIVE IN 
AFRICAN AFFAIRS, MOST RECENTLY HAVING BEEN PROMOTED BY US 
SPECIAL ENVOY WOLPE FOR A ROLE IN DRC CONFLICT MEDIATION. 
POST HAS FOUND SANT'EGIDIO TO BE A USEFUL INTERLOCUTOR -- 
THEY FREQUENTLY TRAVEL TO PLACES AND TALK WITH PEOPLE THAT 
THE USG HAS LIMITED ABILITY TO REACH. 
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4.  (C)  GUIDANCE REQUEST:  POST WOULD APPRECIATE ANY 
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT MAY WISH TO PROVIDE IN RESPONDING TO 
DON MATTEO.  WE HAVE TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD GET BACK TO HIM 
ASAP. 
MERANTE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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 2001VATICA04030 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL