US embassy cable - 05DARESSALAAM687

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000687 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  4/4/15 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, OREP, TZ, BY 
SUBJECT:  CODEL INHOFE DISCUSSES BURUNDI, ARTICLE 98, AU 
STANDBY FORCE WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KIKWETE 
 
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Michael S. Owen for reasons 
1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (U)  Senator James Inhofe (OK), Senator Mike Enzi (WY), 
and Congressman John Boozman (AR) met with Foreign Minister 
Jakaya Kikwete during a brief stop-over in Dar es Salaam on 
April 1.  Kikwete had just returned from parliamentary 
capital Dodoma, where he had deposited his nomination 
papers to seek the ruling CCM party nomination for the 
presidency, and was in a decidedly upbeat mood. 
 
2.  (C)  Asked about regional stability, Kikwete voiced 
some optimism about Burundi rebels FNL-Palipehutu coming to 
the bargaining table.  Acknowledging that there would be 
"ups and downs" in the process, he said nonetheless the 
first signs are encouraging.  He noted that senior FNL 
negotiators are currently in Dar es Salaam, and that talks 
would proceed for at least the following week.  The 
Minister said the FNL leadership realized that "the train 
is already leaving the station," and that failure to 
negotiate now could even further marginalize the group.  He 
said the GOT is suspicious of the FNL leadership, but is 
nonetheless prepared to play a helpful role, within the 
context of overall South African leadership. 
 
3.  (C)  Senator Inhofe noted that Tanzania is losing US 
military assistance because of its refusal to sign an 
Article 98 agreement, and asked if that decision might be 
reconsidered when a new President is elected later this 
year.  Weighing his words carefully, Kikwete claimed that 
the decision on Article 98 was not a Foreign Ministry 
decision, but rather had been made by the Justice Ministry 
and the "leadership," presumably President Mkapa.  Although 
he stopped short of saying the decision could be 
reconsidered, by distancing himself from the decision he 
held out the possibility that if he becomes President 
Kikwete later this year, he could reconsider without having 
to reverse himself. 
 
4.  (C)  Senator Inhofe voiced strong USG support for the 
African Union's standby peacekeeping brigades.  Kikwete 
said only that the standby brigades were a good idea, but 
would need a great deal of support. 
 
5.  (U)  Codel Inhofe departed post before this cable was 
drafted and did not clear on it. 
 
OWEN