US embassy cable - 02ROME3604

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003604 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2007 
TAGS: PREL, ECIN, ZI, IT, UN 
SUBJECT: ITALY BELIEVES ZIMBABWE MUST BE INVITED TO EU-SADC 
FORUM 
 
REF: STATE 136846 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL P. THIEDE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  IN RESPONSE TO REFTEL DEMARCHE REQUESTING 
THAT ZIMBABWE BE EXCLUDED FROM THE NOVEMBER EU MEETING WITH 
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC), THE MFA'S 
OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN AFFAIRS STATED THAT THE 
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GOI DISAGREED.  WHILE THE LACK OF DEMOCRACY IN ZIMBABWE WAS 
REGRETTABLE, THE MEETING WAS SLATED TO BE BETWEEN THE EU AND 
SADC, NOT INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES, AND THUS THERE WAS NO 
QUESTION OF EXCLUDING ONE OF THE MEMBERS.  FAILING TO INVITE 
ZIMBABWE WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO HOLD THE 
MEETING, AN OUTCOME THAT WOULD HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN-EUROPEAN RELATIONS AND REDUCE THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO USE DIALOGUE TO INFLUENCE SOUTHERN AFRICA TO 
DEMOCRATIZE.  EU MEMBERS WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO AGREE ON THIS 
MATTER ON JULY 22.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) POLOFF MET WITH MARIO BOLOGNA, THE NEW OFFICE 
DIRECTOR FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN AFFAIRS AT THE MFA, ON JULY 17 
TO PRESENT REFTEL DEMARCHE REQUESTING THAT ZIMBABWE NOT BE 
INVITED TO THE EU-SADC FORUM SLATED FOR NOVEMBER.  BOLOGNA 
SAID THAT THE GOI WAS "AGAINST GRADING ZIMBABWE AGAINST THE 
OTHERS," IMPLYING THAT ZIMBABWE WAS NOT THE ONLY MEMBER OF 
SADC WITH A DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT.  HE WAS "CONVINCED SADC 
REPRESENTS SOUTHERN AFRICA AND CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO 
DEMOCRATIZE THE CONTINENT."  ELABORATING, HE SAID THAT THE 
EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES INCLUDED IN THE DIALOGUE COULD INFLUENCE 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
 
3.  (C) BOLOGNA WAS CONVINCED THAT EXCLUSION OF ZIMBABWE 
WOULD MEAN THAT DIALOGUE WITH SADC WOULD END.  THE GOI DID 
NOT WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN, AS IT WOULD "HAVE CONSEQUENCES 
FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN-EUROPEAN RELATIONS."  THE AFRICANS WOULD 
FEEL THAT EUROPE WAS AGAINST THEM.  ASKED WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE 
HE ENVISIONED, BOLOGNA WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CONCRETE 
ANSWER.  HE NOTED THAT IF AN EU STATE WERE EXCLUDED FROM AN 
EU MEETING WITH ANOTHER REGIONAL ORGANIZATION, THE OTHER 
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STATES WOULD REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE AS A PROTEST.  THE 
INVITATION WAS TO THE GROUP, NOT TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES. 
 
4.  (SBU) BOLOGNA CONFIRMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS SLATED TO BE 
DISCUSSED JULY 22.  HOWEVER, HE PREDICTED THAT CONTROVERSY 
WOULD STYMIE THE EU, WHICH WOULD NOT MAKE A DECISION ON THE 
INVITATIONS UNTIL MUCH CLOSER TO NOVEMBER. 
SEMBLER 
 
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 2002ROME03604 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL