US embassy cable - 05MASERU371

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000371 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KHIV, EAID, PGOV, LT, HIV 
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON VISITS LESOTHO TO PROMOTE PEDIATRIC 
TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS AND LAUNCH NEW CLINIC 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (U) Former U.S. President William J. Clinton visited Lesotho 
on Monday, 18 July 2005, his second stop on a week-long 
six-nation Africa tour to promote the work of the Clinton 
Foundation's HIV/AIDS Initiative.  The former President's 
messages resonated with USG policy, PEPFAR concepts, and post's 
Mission Performance Plan objectives.  He emphasized the 
responsibility of every Mosotho to know his/her HIV/AIDS status, 
to contribute to the citizenry's education, and to assist in 
curbing the pandemic.  Mr. Clinton bluntly reminded an audience 
of Basotho government officials and private citizens that a 
country with a 30% adult infection rate could not survive, but 
also lauded the Government of Lesotho's commitment to halting 
the spread of HIV/AIDS among children.  Early in the day, Mr. 
Clinton held talks with Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, MFA 
Monyane Moleleki, Minister of Health Phooko, and Government 
Secretary T. Sekhamane.  He also met at length with King Letsie 
 
SIPDIS 
III and the Queen -- both of whom have been active in the 
HIV/AIDS fight.  Ambassador Perry and foundation official, Ira 
Magaziner, also attended this meeting.   The GOL deeply 
appreciated the visit, so much so that following a short 
audience with His Majesty King Letsie III, the King bestowed the 
Kingdom of Lesotho's highest honor on the former president, 
Knight Commander of the Most Courteous Order of Lesotho 
(KCMCOL), before an audience of over 200 dignitaries and guests. 
 Throngs of Basotho people lined the streets of Maseru 
throughout the day, awaiting a glimpse of the former president. 
At each site the public greeted him with ululating, cheering, 
and singing, and at one point Mr. Clinton broke from the 
motorcade to personally greet the public and shake hands among 
assembled crowds. The visit went smoothly and ran slightly ahead 
of schedule, enabling the former President to depart earlier 
than anticipated en route to Mandela's birthday celebrations in 
Johannesburg.  The diplomatic corps, especialy the Chinese, 
seemed extremely interested in this visit.  End Summary. 
 
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Meetings with Lesotho's Leadership and Ceremonial Service 
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2.  (U) The Clinton Foundation was keen to emphasize the private 
nature of this visit and to downplay the official tone of 
meetings with GOL officials, but agreed to a celebratory 
reception at the airport.  Prime Minister Mosisili, MFA 
Moleleki, GS Sekhamane, and Minister of Health Phooko greeted 
Mr. Clinton's plane with Ambassador Perry, and led him through a 
red-carpet receiving line of government officials at the airport 
as cultural groups performed dances and songs.  Mr. Clinton, 
accompanied by his own staff aide, proceeded to a 50-minute 
meeting with the PM, MFA, and GS, while Ambassador Perry briefed 
the remainder of Clinton's staff.  (Note: Members of Clinton's 
staff in informal conversation later in the day said that the PM 
spoke for 40-45 uninterrupted minutes at the morning meeting. 
During lead-up planning meetings with the GOL, Embassy, and 
Clinton advance staff, GS Sekhamane indicated that the PM wanted 
to discuss development issues with Clinton as well as HIV/AIDS.) 
 
3.  (SBU) Although the GOL told the Clinton advance staff that 
the meeting with the King would be a private, one-on-one 
discussion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Moleleki and Ambassador 
Perry participated in the palace meeting as well as Clinton 
Foundation aides, Ira Magaziner and Eric Nonacs.  During the 
discussion, King Letsie stated his concern that Lesotho benefit 
from available ARV treatment.  Clinton asserted that for USD 
160, adults could be tested and receive initial treatment.  He 
elaborated on the need for global use of generics which would 
permit adequate treatment of African children.  On the subject 
of poverty, the former President disagreed with the G-8 Summit 
position that non-HIPC countries would not benefit from debt 
relief.  (Comment:  The GOL has complained in public and private 
its discontent at being left off the debt relief list.  End 
Comment)  After escorting Mr. Clinton to the Palace banqueting 
hall, the King awarded the former president Lesotho's highest 
honor, Knight Commander of the Most Courteous Order of Lesotho. 
Receiving the designation, Mr. Clinton explained the ironic 
historical connotations of knighting a former American 
president, but said he is happy to be a knight commander in the 
crusade to successfully treat the population infected with 
HIV/AIDS and prevent new infections, particularly among 
children.  During the ceremony, the Ambassador was seated with 
 
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the Prime Minister, the King and Queen, and the former President. 
 
4.  (U) The capstone event of the day occurred at Queen 
Elizabeth II Hospital in Maseru, where choirs and children 
greeted the former President as he entered the pediatric ward. 
Senior pediatricians Dr. Grace Phiri and Dr. Monica escorted him 
through the cramped, overcrowded pediatric ward where they first 
began outpatient anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment this year. 
They then walked with him to the new $27,000 pediatric facility 
dedicated exclusively to treatment and ARV drugs to both 
in-patient and outpatient children.  There, Mr. Clinton met 
several families with children who have recently started on the 
treatment, and he officially inaugurated the new clinic.  The 
Government Secretary presided over a press conference featuring 
Minister of Health Phooko and Mr. Clinton, who both offered 
remarks and answered questions.  Mr. Clinton stressed the 
importance of treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS among 
children, and explained that the Clinton Foundation plans to 
offer long-term support.  The Clinton Foundation funded the 
renovation of the new clinic, clinical training for staff, and 
supply of low-cost ARVs and other medications.  The Foundation 
is in partnership with UNICEF to open the clinic, provide 
essential medical equipment, and continue training opportunities 
for health professionals and clinic personnel.  USAID supports 
the prevention of Mother to Child Transmission aspect of the 
hospital and initiated the Collaboration Agreement which 
includes the USG, American universities (Boston, Baylor and 
Columbia), NGOs and the Clinton Foundation. 
 
5.  (SBU) The Ambassador and former President had the 
opportunity to talk privately about the need for consonance 
between official USG programs and the many U.S. private 
foundations, public and private universities, and 
non-governmental organizations involved in the war against AIDS, 
as everyone shares the mutual end goal to eradicate the disease. 
 Mr. Clinton was appreciative of the forward-leaning approach of 
the Administration at this time.  His proposals for the Clinton 
Foundation's continued work were very much in line with PEPFAR 
goals and the need to advance education, prevention, and 
treatment in order to support the GOL's leadership position on 
HIV/AIDS and to prevent further loss of life.  (Note:  We 
advised Ira Magaziner and Foundation Foreign Affairs Advisor 
Eric Nonacs of the July 22 visit of O/GAC AMB Tobias in 
one-on-one conversations.  They agreed the timing and messages 
of the visits mutually reinforced pro-active policies.) 
 
6.  (U) The Foundation hosted a closing reception and arranged 
individual photographs for each guest with Mr. Clinton.  Toward 
the end of the reception, the Mission convened a group of 
Embassy and Peace Corps American and long-serving local staff 
for a group photo with the former President, who graciously dove 
into the group and shook hands.  Several Peace Corps Volunteers 
obtained autographs and entertained 1-2 minute conversations 
with him.  International and local press covered the 
delegation's arrival, meetings with PM, the tours, dedication, 
and press conference at Queen Elizabeth II hospital.  Local 
press also shot photographs as Mr. Clinton greeted the King, and 
during the award bestowal ceremony.  The GOL arranged a 
receiving line to see off the departing delegation, and the 
Deputy Prime Minister, MFA, and Ambassador met Mr. Clinton a 
final time at planeside just before boarding. 
 
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COMMENT 
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7.  (SBU) Following the visit, Clinton Foundation advance staff 
phoned the Government Secretary to thank the GOL for its 
flexibility throughout the planning and execution of the day's 
program, and for their generous, hospitable welcome to Mr. 
Clinton.  The Ambassador spoke with the Foreign Minister on July 
19, to thank the GOL for significant security and protocol 
assistance.  The MFA was exceptionally pleased with the 
cooperation between the GOL, Clinton Foundation, and Embassy 
teams and very grateful that a former U.S. President could visit 
Lesotho.  The Ambassador briefed the Chinese Ambassador (twice) 
at his request July 19, on key elements of the visit.  We note 
that the PRC press and government seemed exceptionally 
interested in all aspects of this visit.  The diplomatic corps 
appeared impressed overall.  The PRC regularly observes that 
with the imminent departure of the UK High Commission, the U.S. 
Mission is the largest Western presence in Lesotho. 
 
 
PERRY