Cablegate: Lesotho Offers Support for Zoellick, but Seeks Regional

VZCZCXRO1452
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0313 1511601
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311601Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2999
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3369

UNCLAS MASERU 000313

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S
DEPT ALSO FOR IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN IBRD LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO OFFERS SUPPORT FOR ZOELLICK, BUT SEEKS REGIONAL
CONSENSUS

REF: STATE 73691

1. (U) SUMMARY. On May 30, Charge spoke with Lesotho's
Minister of Finance as well as with the Acting Principal
Secretary of Foreign Affairs concerning the nomination of

SIPDIS
Ambassador Robert Zoellick to lead the World Bank. As a result
of the nominee's previous visit to the Mountain Kingdom in his
capacity as USTR and his work on development issues, including
AGOA and the Doha Round, Zoellick is well and favorably known in
Lesotho. The GOL's desire to seek regional consensus on the
nomination, however, may water down an otherwise likely
inclination to publicly and quickly endorse the nomination. END
SUMMARY.

------------------------------
Foreign Ministry Enthusiastic,
Finance Minister Circumspect
------------------------------

2. (SBU) As the GOL's ministers and principal secretaries are
currently at an off-site retreat, Charge spoke with Acting
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs P. P. Makasholo on the
morning of May 30 concerning President Bush's nomination of
Robert Zoellick as the next World Bank President. Makosholo was
highly enthusiastic about the nomination, noting Zoellick's past
travel to Lesotho and his contributions to the success of the
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), from which Lesotho
has derived tremendous trade benefit. Calling Zoellick a
"friend of Lesotho," he committed to briefing Foreign Minister
Tsekoa as soon as possible. During a subsequent conversation

SIPDIS
with Poloff on May 31, Makosholo stated that he had communicated
reftel points and Zoellick's biography to the Foreign Minister.

3. (SBU) On the evening of May 30, a more circumspect Minister
of Finance Thahane noted during a conversation with Charge that
he would need to consult with regional finance ministers on the
matter, hinting at the need to form a common regional position.
He did not respond directly to Charge's suggestion that Lesotho
publicly mention its support for Zoellick's candidacy. As a
former World Bank Vice President, Minister Thahane did observe
that Zoellick is well and favorably known to Lesotho and has
strong credentials for the job.

--------------------------------------------
Lesotho's Natural Support Likely to be Muted
--------------------------------------------

4. (U) COMMENT: Ambassador Zoellick is well and positively
known within Lesotho's finance and trade circles for his close
collaboration with the Mountain Kingdom during the Doha round of
WTO talks and for his support of AGOA. It is possible, however,
that local enthusiasm for his nomination could be somewhat
softened by the GOL's desire, particularly as current SADC
Chair, to seek a regional consensus on the nomination. END
COMMENT.

MURPHY

© Scoop Media