US embassy cable - 02ROME5899

UNCLAS ROME 005899 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH 
STATE FOR U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM 
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
GAO FOR PTHOMAS 
TOKYO FOR USAID REP 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID, AORC, PREF, EAGR, EU, WFP, UN 
SUBJECT: RSA AMBASSADOR SHEILA SISULU NAMED WFP DEPUTY 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2003 
 
 
1. WFP HAS ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF AMBASSADOR SHEILA 
SISULU AS DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.  AMBASSADOR SISULU WILL 
ASSUME HER NEW DUTIES ON FEBRUARY 1, 2003. 
 
2. A NATIONAL OF SOUTH AFRICA, AMBASSADOR SISULU BRINGS TO 
WFP AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND AS AN EDUCATION REFORMER AND 
ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVIST.  OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD, AMBASSADOR 
SISULU HELD VARIOUS SENIOR POSITIONS AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN 
COMMITTEE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.  SHE HAS ALSO HELD POSITIONS 
AS THE NATIONAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR AT THE EQUAL 
OPPORTUNITIES COUNCIL AND AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL OF 
CHURCHES.  AT THE END OF APARTHEID, AMBASSADOR SISULU WAS 
APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. 
IN 1997 SHE WAS ASKED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SERVE AS CONSUL- 
GENERAL AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSULATE IN NEW YORK.  TWO 
YEARS LATER SHE WAS APPOINTED AS SOUTH AFRICA'S AMBASSADOR 
TO THE UNITED STATES AND PRESENTLY OCCUPIES THAT POST. 
 
3. IN A RECENT EVENT IN WASHINGTON ON DECEMBER 2, MARKING 
AIDS DAY 2002, AMBASSADOR SISULU, COMMENTED THAT THE DROUGHT 
IN SOUTHERN AFRICA WAS "CONSPIRING WITH AIDS TO CREATE A 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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DISASTER" IN HER COUNTRY. BY THAT SHE MEANT THAT "MORE WOMEN 
ARE NOW INFECTED THAN MEN [WHICH] MEANS FOOD PRODUCTION IS 
AFFECTED." 
 
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COMMENT 
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4. WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF AMBASSADOR SISULU, WFP REAFFIRMS 
ITS COMMITMENT TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STAFF FROM 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING AT THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE 
LEVEL. AND AS WAR AND DROUGHT (PARTICULARLY IN SUB-SAHARAN 
AFRICA) CONTINUE TO DRASTICALLY RATCHET UP HUMANITARIAN FOOD 
AID NEEDS, WFP ALSO SIGNALS ITS DESIRE TO HAVE A STRONG 
ADVOCATE FOR AFRICA AT THE HIGHEST RUNG OF THE ORGANIZATION. 
U.S. MISSION IS PLEASED WITH THE APPOINTMENT AND LOOKS 
FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH AMBASSADOR SISULU.  HALL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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