This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS MAPUTO 000710
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/RSA, AF/FO, AND ACOTA BHUGHES
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA CLUEKER
COMUSNAVEUR FOR LT DOLAN, EUCOM PLEASE PASS POLAD NAPLES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS PTER KHDP MZ EFIS PKO ACOTA
SUBJECT: COMNAVEUR VISIT STRESSES MARITIME BORDER CONCERNS
REF: MAPUTO 659
1. (U) On May 20 and 21, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces
Europe, Admiral Gregory G. Johnson visited Maputo and met
with Mozambican officials. His meetings principally covered
USG concerns over Mozambique's lack of coastal patrol
capacity, Mozambican success in the African Union
Peacekeeping Mission in Burundi (AMIB), and the GRM interest
in ACOTA peacekeeping training.
2. (U) As part on AOR orientation trip to four African
countries, USCOMNAVEUR met with Vice Minister of Defense
Henrique Banze and Chief of Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM)
General Lagos Lidimo. He also toured the Maputo port with
Alec Don, of the Maputo Port Development Company, and had a
lunch discussion with Ambassador Carlos dos Santos of the
Presidency, Minister of Fisheries Cadmiel Mutemba, Banze, and
Assistant Director of the Institute of the Sea and Borders
Dr. Christiano Santos. He was accompanied on the calls by
Ambassador, POLAD, flag aide, and notetakers.
3. (SBU) Vice Minster Banze thanked the Admiral for his
visit and his positive assessment of Mozambique's progress
since 1992, bilateral relations with the USG, and their
unique position as an MCA qualified country and partner in
the President's AIDS Emergency Plan. Admiral Johnson also
thanked Banze for his ministry's interest in the ACOTA
program. Banze recognized the challenges faced by the GRM
military in both staffing and resources, in particular the
total lack of capacity to patrol Mozambique's long coastline.
The GRM is aware that fishery and other natural resources
are being plundered and that traffic in illegal migrants,
narcotics, contraband, and possibly arms is transiting
unhindered. Both agreed that international criminals and
terrorists could exploit this weakness. Both Banze and
General Lidimo outlined GRM interest in receiving timely
ACOTA peacekeeping training to sent a trained replacement
contingent to relieve the reinforced company that has been in
Burundi since October 2003 by the end of this year. In the
separate meetings they both also expressed the FADM's desire
to increase their demining capability as a specialization for
the small national military.
4. (U) After receiving a tour and explanation of the ongoing
efforts to rehabilitate the country's principal port and
establish Maputo as a rival to Durban for traffic with South
Africa's Gauteng region, the group attended a lunch hosted by
the Ambassador. Discussion focused on Mozambique's role in
the African Union, NEPAD, the AMIB, HIV/AIDS, and upcoming
U.S. and Mozambican elections.
5. (U) Admiral Johnson's party did not clear this message.
LA LIME