Cablegate: Pitching Angola On the Sadc Summit

VZCZCXRO0015
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0296 1021353
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111353Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4722
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY

UNCLAS LUANDA 000296

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AO ZI
SUBJECT: PITCHING ANGOLA ON THE SADC SUMMIT

REF: LUANDA 285

1. (SBU) During an April 11 telephone call to Foreign
Minister Joao Miranda, Ambassador Mozena expressed U.S.
support for the SADC initiative in regard to the Zimbabwe
situation, which President Dos Santos, as Chair of the SADC
Organ for Politics, Defense, and Security, helped President
Mwanawassa launch. The Ambassador told Miranda that SADC can
play a vital and constructive role to ensure that the will of
the Zimbabwe people, who voted almost two weeks ago, is
realized. The Ambassador said the international community is
looking to the region and watching how SADC leaders respond
in defense of democracy. The Ambassador added that the U.S.
hoped violence can be avoided in Zimbabwe.

2. (SBU) Miranda took the points on board and said he would
convey them to the President. He said he and the President
would depart either today or tomorrow morning for Lusaka,
leaving on Sunday. Miranda said he would reach out to the
Ambassador the week of his return from New York, where he
will participate in a meeting of the UN Security Council on
African issues, called by the South Africans in their role as
Chair of the UNSC.

3. (SBU) Comment: The GRA is playing its cards close to its
vest. Urgent, but quiet diplomacy is ongoing in the region,
but the media here has been silent on Angola's role at the
SADC meeting... and Miranda wasn't tipping his hand to the
Ambassador. Angola's action (or inaction) at the SADC summit
will reveal much about the depth of Angola's commitment to
democracy.
MOZENA

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