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(WIKILEAKS CABLES, MUTARE TIMES) PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

COMMENT - Morgan Tsvangirai to President Obama, calling for the continued need for economic sanctions ('restrictive measures'). From Wikileaks Cable ID 09HARARE1007:

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PGOV OVIP ZI
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

¶1. The following is the text of a message as received from Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe to President Barack Obama of
the United States of America.

¶2. BEGIN TEXT:

REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE

The Prime Minister

21 December 2009

His Excellency
Barrack Obama
President of the United States of America

Your Excellency,

As we approach the end of 2009, a period that has turned out to be a watershed for Zimbabwe, I write to convey my appreciation for the support we have received from you personally, the government and people of your great nation. Kindly pass on my warm thanks also to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.


I was very pleased, Mr. President, to note the support offered by your country and the various international Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that expanded beyond the life saving interventions which were so important. This assistance has brought direct benefits to millions of our people and has demonstrated to the hard pressed population that the reformists in government are capable of delivering results.

Your support for my office has also been invaluable and I look
forward to this continuing.

As you are no doubt aware, Your Excellency, we are at a crucial
stage in our efforts to ensure the full implementation of the GPA.
Meanwhile, our political situation remains characterised by
intransigence to frustrate the process of bringing about real
change.

The role played by SADC, in general, and the mediator President
Jacob Zuma, in particular, is greatly appreciated. I know that you
have personally played a crucial role in helping this to happen, and
I encourage you to continue your crucial dialogue with President
Zuma.

We have had discussions with Ambassador Charles Ray on restrictive
measures. I well understand that movement on the part of the
International Community will need to be in response to tangible
progress on GPA implementation. We should, however, ensure that
movement when it comes is seen to be acknowledged in a tangible way
- striking a careful balance between retaining leverage and
rewarding progress. This will involve difficult judgements but it
will be important to sustain momentum when it comes.

In light of the current negotiations of the three political parties
I have now taken personal interest in the normalisation of relations
between my government and your government and my office will be
following up on this very critical issue in the coming year.

We have, with your help, made real progress in 2009. Zimbabwe has
been brought back from the brink. The economy has been stabilised.
Essential health, education and other services have been restored. A
long and difficult road clearly lies ahead but with the continued
support of key partners like the US, and also the active engagement
of SADC and South Africa, I have every hope of building on this
start.

May I wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a joyous New
Year. Please accept, Mr. President, assurances of my esteem
consideration.

Looking forward to continue working with you,

Morgan Tsvangirai

END TEXT.

¶3. (U) The letter was received by hand delivery via U.S. Defense
Attache LtCol. Patrick Anderson at the U.S. Embassy Harare on
Tuesday, December 29, 2009. Original will be forwarded to AF/S Desk
Officer Brian Walch via diplomatic pouch, registration number
¶7262800.

Labels: MDC TREASON, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 4:01 AM