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| Identifier: | 03STATE213164 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 03STATE213164 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Secretary of State |
| Created: | 2003-07-23 18:51:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED |
| Tags: | EAID ECON ETRD SADC |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
O 231851Z JUL 03 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY GABORONE IMMEDIATE INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 213164
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, ECON, ETRD, SADC
SUBJECT: PULLING THE RCSA PLUG ON SADC
REFS A) GABORONE 1179 B) STATE 175988
1. WASHINGTON AGENCIES APPRECIATE POSTS' EFFORTS TO WALK
BACK SADC'S DECISION NOT TO ACCEPT USG FUNDS FOR PROJECTS
THAT PRECLUDE ZIMBABWEAN PARTICIPATION. WE REGRET THAT
SADC COULD NOT ARRIVE AT A TIMELY DECISION THAT WOULD ALLOW
USAID'S REGIONAL CENTER FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA (RCSA) TO
OBLIGATE $22.5 MILLION IN FY03 THROUGH THE SADC
SECRETARIAT.
2. DEPARTMENT CONCURS IN EMBASSY GABORONE'S PROPOSAL TO
SEND THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO THE SADC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY,
SIGNED BY THE AMBASSADOR AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SADC.
DEAR DR. RAMSAMY:
AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED ON MANY OCCASIONS, ONE OF THE UNIQUE
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE U.S.-SADC RELATIONSHIP WAS THE
PRACTICE BY THE REGIONAL CENTER FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA
(RCSA) OF OBLIGATING ITS ANNUAL PROGRAM BUDGET OF
APPROXIMATELY $22 MILLION/YEAR THROUGH THE SADC
SECRETARIAT.
THIS EXERCISE, UNPRECEDENTED IN OUR RELATIONS WITH OTHER
REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN AFRICA, HIGHLIGHTED THE SHARED
GOALS OF SADC AND THE USG FOR THE REGION.
WHILE WE HOPED VERY MUCH TO CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE, WE
UNDERSTAND THE SECRETARIAT IS UNABLE TO CONFIRM SADC'S
WILLINGNESS TO DO SO. BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS RELATED
TO THE CLOSING OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, WE ARE UNABLE TO WAIT
ANY LONGER FOR A SADC DETERMINATION. I AM THEREFORE
INFORMING YOU THAT RCSA WILL OBLIGATE ITS FUNDS IN A
DIFFERENT MANNER THIS YEAR AND IN THE FUTURE. THIS
DECISION MAY ALSO AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
TECHNICAL AND OTHER SUPPORT TO THE SADC SECRETARIAT.
WE DEEPLY REGRET THAT SADC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND, AS WE
HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, A WAY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
THE UNITED STATES IN SPITE OF THE DIFFICULTIES POSED BY THE
SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE. WHILE THIS HAS CONSTRAINED THE
WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE USG AND SADC, WE HOPE TO
CONTINUE OUR POSITIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SADC SECRETARIAT IN
SUPPORT OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICA'S REGIONAL GOALS.
SINCERELY.
JOSEPH HUGGINS
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SADC
POWELL
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