Former South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the US could help Zimbabwe’s recovery programme by bypassing the government and assisting commercial farmers and the business sector directly.
Clinton had told her that US sanctions on Zimbabwe would remain but the US would continue with its aid relief.
Dlamini Zuma, who is now Minister of Home Affairs, said the new members of the coalition government were working with President Robert Mugabe to kick-start the economy.
The United States could therefore help by establishing agricultural lines of credit for Zimbabwean commercial farmers to help stimulate the agricultural sector.
She suggested that this could be achieved, transparently, through the Zimbabwean agricultural unions that maintained independence from the Zimbabwe government.
Equally important, Dlamini-Zuma argued, was the need for loans to help small businesses bounce back in the new Zimbabwe economy.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09STATE27831, C) Secretary Clinton’s March 19, 2009 Meeting
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
O 232237Z MAR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 027831
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: OVIP CLINTON HILLARY PREL PGOV PHUM UNSC SF
SUBJECT: (C) Secretary Clinton’s March 19, 2009 Meeting
with South African Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma.
¶1. (C) Classified by: Acting Assistant Secretary
Phillip Carter, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of
State – Reason 1.4 (d)
¶2. (U) March 19, 2009, 2:30 p.m., Washington, DC.
¶3. (U) Participants:
United States
The Secretary
Acting Assistant Secretary Phillip Carter, AF
Acting Assistant Secretary Robert A. Wood, PA
Joe Macmanus, Executive Assistant, S Staff
Rush Marburg, AF Notetaker
South Africa
Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, DFA
UN Permanent Representative, Ambassador Sipho G. Nene
Ambassador Welile Nhlapo, South African Embassy, USA
Fadl Nacerodien, Director, USA Desk, DFA
¶4. (C) SUMMARY. On March 19, 2009, Secretary Clinton
hosted South African Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma for
discussions that included broadly enhanced bilateral
engagement, the status of the World Conference Against
Racism Durban review document, the current situation in
Zimbabwe and existing United States sanctions,
deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Sudan and
multilateral nonproliferation engagement. Secretary
Clinton acknowledged the importance of the United States –
South Africa bilateral relationship and urged Foreign
Minister Dlamini-Zuma and the South African government to
take a leadership role in helping address broad African
challenges in the areas of health, economic development
and regional conflict in Sudan and Zimbabwe. Other topics
of discussion included the upcoming South African
elections, renewable energy, education and the need to
stimulate agricultural growth both in South Africa and the
region. END SUMMARY.
————————————-
BILATERAL COOPERATION: MOVING FORWARD
————————————-
¶5. (C) Secretary Clinton proposed a new working group
model for continued dialogue between the United States and
South Africa involving all levels of government on
bilateral issues. The Secretary expressed our desire to
engage in areas of trade and investment, energy technology
development, renewable and alternate fuel research and
electricity and power. FM Dlamini-Zuma welcomed this
suggestion and noted that our ongoing collaboration in
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and health issues demonstrates that
we can work cooperatively on achieving shared objectives.
Secretary Clinton suggested that a new working group model
could build partnerships for the long term.
¶6. (C) FM Dlamini-Zuma expressed a desire to strengthen
trade and economic ties with the United States, and noted
that the U.S. is South Africa’s second largest trading
partner. Dlamini-Zuma asserted that economic cooperation
with the United States is a top priority, which we can
improve upon. Dlamini-Zuma also noted South Africa’s
interest in working with other countries to develop its
agricultural capacity. On education, she cautioned that
South Africa cannot grow economically with a poorly
educated work force and cited the need for improved higher
education institutions in her country.
——————————————— —
WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM – DURBAN REVIEW
——————————————— —
¶7. (C) Dlamini-Zuma provided an update on recent Geneva-
based meetings on the Durban review document and invited
USG engagement moving forward. She noted that many of the
areas of concern to the United States had been addressed
and/or removed from the document. In support of this
claim, Dlamini-Zuma identified changes in the language on
anti-Zionism, sexual orientation, and the removal of anti-
Israeli text. Dlamini-Zuma added that the document has
been reduced from 63 to 17 pages in length, and noted that
much progress has been made on the language. Dlamini-Zuma
suggested that, if the United States decides to reengage,
South Africa is willing to dispatch its team to meet with
USG counterparts to work cooperatively. Secretary Clinton
thanked Dlamini-Zuma for her efforts and agreed that
racism remains a serious problem and challenge. The
Secretary urged that any Durban follow-on discussions
should focus on addressing the problem of racism, as
opposed to politicizing it.
————————
ZIMBABWE: OUR COMMITMENT
————————
¶8. (C) Secretary Clinton explained that USG sanctions on
Zimbabwe will remain in place as reflected in President
Obama’s recent decision to renew the national emergency
declaration with regard to Zimbabwe. The Secretary
noted, however, that USG aid relief to Zimbabwe will
continue as we attempt to address the suffering of the
Zimbabwean people. Dlamini-Zuma agreed that the situation
in Zimbabwe is not easily solved. Recounting a recent
trip to South Africa by Zimbabwean government leaders,
notably Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Finance
Minister Tendai Biti, Dlamini-Zuma said that new members
of the coalition government are working with President
Mugabe’s faction to create a plan to kick-start the
economy. Dlamini-Zuma suggested the USG could help by
establishing agricultural lines of credit for Zimbabwean
commercial farmers to help stimulate the agricultural
sector. Dlamini-Zuma suggested this could be achieved,
transparently, through the Zimbabwean agricultural unions
that maintain independence from the Zimbabwe government.
Equally important, Dlamini-Zuma argued, is the need for
loans to help small businesses bounce back in the new
Zimbabwe economy. Secretary Clinton expressed a desire to
see the power-sharing agreement work and said that
division of responsibilities is important as Zimbabwe
moves forward to heal the wounds of the past.
——————————————— –
SUDAN: URGE THE SUDANESE TO ALLOW NGO PRESENCE
——————————————— –
¶9. (C) Secretary Clinton expressed concern with the
deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan following
the expulsion of non-government organizations (NGOs) and
informed Dlamini-Zuma that the U.S. intends to hold
President Omar al-Bashir accountable for ignoring the
needs of his people and not filling the void left by the
departed NGOs. Secretary Clinton informed Dlamini-Zuma
that President Obama has just named a Special Envoy for
Sudan and suggested the envoy could engage with President
Mbeki, who has just been appointed by the African Union
(AU) to a special position to work on Darfur. Dlamini-
Zuma said the South African government is attempting to
encourage the Sudanese government to allow the return of
at least some of the NGOs, and that her government is
looking at ways to discourage President al-Bashir from
chasing more aid workers from Sudan. She stressed,
however, that the South African government remains equally
concerned with the North-South peace agreement and
prospects for sustainability. Dlamini-Zuma mentioned
South African engagement with the Southern Sudanese,
through training and education exchanges, which has helped
build their capacity to effectively run government and
public services.
————————————–
NONPROLIFERATION: CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT
————————————–
¶10. (C) Secretary Clinton invited South Africa to remain
engaged in multilateral discussions on the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Noting South Africa’s
importance as one of the leading Non-Aligned Movement
voices, the Secretary said that South Africa’s input will
be valuable as we push for a new framework for the 2010
NPT Review Conference. Dlamini-Zuma welcomed the
invitation and reiterated South Africa’s strong position
against nuclear arms development and the need for strong
international controls on the development of nuclear
technologies.
——-
CLOSING
——-
¶11. (C) CONCLUSION: Both Secretary Clinton and Dlamini-
Zuma reaffirmed their strong commitment to work together
and to move the bilateral relationship forward. Secretary
Clinton thanked Dlamini-Zuma for agreeing to travel to the
United States to meet, and said that the USG intends to
send a high-level delegation to South Africa for the
inauguration of the new president on May 9. Dlamini-Zuma
welcomed this news and left an open invitation for
Secretary Clinton to visit South Africa in the near
future.
CLINTON
(68 VIEWS)
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