US embassy cable - 02VATICAN4376

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 004376 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE - MENNUTI AND AF/C, AF/E AND PRM/AF 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2012 
TAGS: BY, MOPS, PGOV, PREF, PREL, SF, MOPS, PGOV, PREF, PREL, SF, TZ, TZBY 
SUBJECT: BURUNDI:  PRESIDENT BUYOYA SEEKS STEPPED UP U.S. 
AND TANZANIAN PRESSURE ON REBEL FACTION 
 
REF: DAR ES SALAAM 4582 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR R. JAMES NICHOLSON, 
REASONS:  1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) SUMMARY:  BURUNDI PRESIDENT BUYOYA, ATTENDING A 
SANT'EGIDIO CONFERENCE IN PALERMO ON CONFLICT AND DIALOGUE, 
REQUESTED A MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON SEPTEMBER 1 TO 
REINFORCE HIS INTEREST IN STEPPED UP U.S. AND TANZANIAN 
PRESSURE ON THE CNDD FACTION OF THE FDD.  MEETING AT THE 
SUGGESTION OF THE SANT'EGIDIO MEDIATOR INVOLVED IN BURUNDI, 
DON MATTEO ZUPPI, BUYOYA SAID HE BELIEVED THE U.S. SHOULD 
BOTH APPROACH THE FACTION DIRECTLY THROUGH ITS CONTACTS WITH 
THEM IN TANZANIA, AND ALSO URGE THE TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT TO 
DO MORE TO PRESSURE THE FACTION TO PARTICIPATE SERIOUSLY IN 
NEGOTIATIONS.  AMBASSADOR URGED BUYOYA TO APPROACH OUR 
EMBASSY IN BUJUMBURA DIRECTLY, BUT PROMISED TO PASS ALONG THE 
PRESIDENT'S CONCERNS TO OUR EMBASSY AND WASHINGTON.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
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BUYOYA FRUSTRATED BY CNDD/FDD RECALCITRANCE 
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2. (C) BURUNDI PRESIDENT BUYOYA, KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE 
ANNUAL SANT'EGIDIO INTER-FAITH CONFERENCE, "FAITHS AND 
CULTURES WITHIN CONFLICT AND DIALOGUE," (SEPTEL) REQUESTED A 
MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON AT THE SUGGESTION OF FATHER 
DON MATTEO ZUPPI, SANT'EGIDIO'S SPIRTUAL LEADER AND AFRICA 
EXPERT, WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN BURUNDI AND THE REGION FOR 
MANY YEARS.  BUYOYA OUTLINED FOR THE AMBASSADOR THE STATE OF 
PLAY IN BURUNDI, STRESSING THAT ALTHOUGH MUCH PROGRESS HAS 
BEEN MADE, THE GOVERNMENT'S INABILITY TO BRING THE REMAINING 
TWO REBEL FACTIONS INTO THE PEACE PROCESS, AND THEIR 
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PAGE 03        VATICA  04376  01 OF 02  091559Z 
UNWILLINGNESS TO ENTER INTO A CEASE-FIRE THREATENS THE 
PROGRESS TO DATE.  ACCORDING TO BUYOYA, THE CNDD/FDD 
CONTINUES TO FIND "PRETEXTS" TO AVOID SUBSTANTIVE 
NEGOTIATIONS, SUCH AS INSISTING THAT THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT 
WAS NOT A COMBATANT, AND THEREFORE ONLY THE ARMY COULD BE 
INVOLVED IN CEASE-FIRE NEGOTIATIONS.  BUYOYA SAID HE HAD 
REQUESTED INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT -- PARTICULARLY FROM TANZANIA 
-- TO CONVINCE THE CNDD/FDD TO ENGAGE SERIOUSLY IN 
NEGOTIATIONS, BUT THAT THE REBEL GROUP "CONTINUED TO PLAY A 
DELAYING GAME." 
 
-------------------- 
U.S. PRESSURE NEEDED 
-------------------- 
 
3.  (C) BUYOYA SAID HIS GOVERNMENT HAD CONCLUDED THAT ONLY 
THE U.S., WORKING WITH TANZANIA, COULD OVERCOME THE CURRENT 
STALEMATE.  NOTING THAT U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN THE GREAT LAKES, 
SUDAN, AND ANGOLA HAD LED TO SOLUTIONS, HE BELIEVED SIMILAR 
ENGAGEMENT NOW IN BURUNDI WOULD BE PIVOTAL.  DESPITE CURRENT 
FRUSTRATIONS, HE BELIEVED THE "TIME WAS RIPE FOR A SOLUTION." 
 OBSERVING THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CNDD/FDD REBEL LEADERS 
WERE "WELL-KNOWN" TO OUR EMBASSY IN TANZANIA, HE URGED THE 
U.S. TO PRESSURE THE LEADERS DIRECTLY TO ENTER NEGOTIATIONS. 
IN ADDITION, HE URGED US TO APPROACH THE GOVERNMENT OF 
TANZANIA TO STEP UP THEIR PRESSURE ON THE FDD/CNDD.  HE 
BELIEVED THAT TANZANIA HAD "ALL THE NECESSARY WEAPONS TO PUSH 
THEM," BUT NEEDED MORE PRESSURE FROM THE U.S. TO BRING THEM 
TO BEAR. 
 
4.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR THANKED BUYOYA FOR SHARING HIS 
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PAGE 04        VATICA  04376  01 OF 02  091559Z 
PERSPECTIVES AND ASKED IF HE HAD APPROACHED OUR EMBASSY IN 
BUJUMBURA DIRECTLY WITH HIS REQUEST.  HE SAID HE HAD NOT, BUT 
THAT HE WOULD DO SO UPON HIS RETURN TO THE CAPITAL.  THE 
AMBASSADOR ENCOURAGED HIM TO DO SO, AND PROMISED TO CONVEY 
HIS VIEWS TO OUR EMBASSIES IN BUJUMBURA AND DAR-ES-SALAAM AND 
TO WASHINGTON.  HE NOTED THAT THE U.S. SHARED THE PRESIDENT'S 
DESIRE TO BRING ALL THE REBEL GROUPS ACTIVELY INTO THE PEACE 
PROCESS. 
 
5.  (C) ASKED ABOUT THE REBELS' OBJECTIVES, BUYOYA SAID IT 
WAS NOT CLEAR TO HIM AT THIS POINT WHAT MORE THEY NEEDED.  HE 
BELIEVED ALL THE CLAIMS THE REBELS HAD PUT FORWARD -- 
DEMOCRACY, INSTITUTIONALIZING SECURITY GUARANTEES, AND 
SETTLEMENT OF PAST CONFLICTS -- WERE ANSWERED IN THE EXISTING 
PEACE ACCORD.  THE REAL ISSUE WAS HOW TO INTEGRATE THE REBELS 
INTO THE NEW INSTITUTIONS, HE SAID.  "WE ARE READY TO GIVE 
THEM ROOM," HE ADDED, "BUT WE NEED THEM TO ENGAGE SERIOUSLY." 
 
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COMMENT 
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                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ9263 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  04376  02 OF 02  091559Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  USNW-00 
      DODE-00  DOTE-00  PERC-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    FAAE-00 
      FBIE-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   VCE-00   NSAE-00  PM-00 
      IRM-00   SS-00    PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   SAS-00 
        /002W 
                  ------------------E49A8A  091559Z /38 
P 091536Z SEP 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 004376 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE - MENNUTI AND AF/C, AF/E AND PRM/AF 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2012 
TAGS: BY, MOPS, PGOV, PREF, PREL, SF, TZ 
SUBJECT: BURUNDI:  PRESIDENT BUYOYA SEEKS STEPPED UP U.S. 
AND TANZANIAN PRESSURE ON REBEL FACTION 
 
6.  (C) SANT'EGIDIO'S DON MATTEO ZUPPI REMAINS ACTIVE IN 
CONFLICT MEDIATION THROUGHOUT AFRICA.  ZUPPI NO DOUBT SAW AN 
OPPORTUNITY WITH PRESIDENT BUYOYA AND THE AMBASSADOR AT THE 
SAME GATHERING TO SEEK TO CATALYZE SOME MOVEMENT AND PUT SOME 
PRESSURE ON THE REBELS.  EMBASSY VATICAN WOULD BE WILLING TO 
COORDINATE A MEETING BETWEEN INCOMING AMBASSADOR YELLIN AND 
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PAGE 02        VATICA  04376  02 OF 02  091559Z 
DON MATTEO ZUPPI, SHOULD THE AMBASSADOR DESIRE, OR TO WORK 
WITH SANT'EGIDIO IN ANY WAY THAT COULD BE HELPFUL TO THE 
DEPARTMENT'S AND INVOLVED EMBASSIES' EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN 
THE PEACE PROCESS. 
 
7. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
NICHOLSON 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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 2002VATICA04376 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL