VZCZCXRO8801
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHAN #0281 1011425
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101425Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1184
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000281
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E - MBEYZEROV
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/S - EPELLETREAU
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CASC ZI MA
SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR'S POSITION ON ZIMBABAWE DEMARCHE
REF: STATE 33658
SBU) Per reftel, the Ambassador spoke with Madagascar's Foreign
Minister Marcel Ranjeva again on April 10, following several recent
conversations expre4ssing U.S. concerns about ZImbabwe. FM Ranjeva
said that while Madagascar is sympathetic to the USG's views on
Zimbabwe, as the last member to join SADC Madagascar is at pains not
to get out of step with SADC or the African Union by getting out in
front of either on this "delicate" subject. Ranjeva pointed to the
upcoming April 18 SADC meeting in Mauritius, which he is slated to
attend alongside President Ravalomanana, as the focal point for SADC
discussions. (He made no mention of an earlier SADC Summit to take
place this weekend in Lusaka, which the April 10 Malagasy press is
reporting.)
MARQUARDT