Meeting with Savimbi, October 5, 1989

Transcription (Scripto)

Read Full Text Only (TXT)

Extent (Dublin Core)

7 pages

File Name (Dublin Core)

lead_395_036_all

Title (Dublin Core)

Meeting with Savimbi, October 5, 1989

Date (Dublin Core)

1989-10-05

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1989-10-05

Congress (Dublin Core)

101st (1989-1991)

Policy Area (Curation)

International Affairs

Creator (Dublin Core)

Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021

Record Type (Dublin Core)

memorandums

Rights (Dublin Core)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core)

https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=26&q=

Physical Location (Dublin Core)

Collection 007, Box 395, Folder 36

Institution (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Republican Leadership Collection, 1985-1996

Full Text (Extract Text)

{page 1}
MEMORANDUM
October 4, 1989
To: SENATOR DOLE
From: AL LEHN
Subject: YOUR MEETING WITH JONAS SAVIMBI, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 4:30 PM
ARRANGEMENTS. The meeting is scheduled to last an hour, but you needn't stay for the entire meeting. There will be a photo op. We have invited the Republican Leadership and the Ranking Members of all committees -- you will get an updated attendance list tomorrow.
BACKGROUND. Savimbi is here to make the case that (1) he's being cut out of the negotiating process in southern Africa and (2) continued, visible U.S. support for him is essential to achieve a genuine political reconciliation in Angola, and a broader peace in southern Africa.
The broad southern African agreement we brokered and which was signed last year involving South Africa, Namibia, Cuba and Angola left one big issue out -- an internal political settlement in Angola. In itself, that worried Savimbi -- he feared that once we had achieved our most important goal, getting the Cubans on a total withdrawal timetable, we would soon forget about the internal political situation in Angola, and sacrifice him.
His concern about us turned out not to be very well-founded -- partly as a result of continuing Congressional pressure, the Bush Administration to date has stood by Savimbi reasonably strongly.
But Savimbi's most important African patron, Zaire's President Mobutu, has not been as faithful. As you know, Zaire has been the channel for our aid deliveries to Savimbi. He did convene an international meeting which led to a ceasefire and the beginning of talks between UNITA and the MPLA regime in Luanda -- but since then he has more and more sided with the MPLA's position. He reportedly has acceded to suggestions that Savimbi's exile could be part of a political solution, and has indicated his willingness to accept a coalition government without the need for prior elections -- something UNITA has always insisted on.
{page 2}
-2-
For the moment, Savimbi has almost totally given up on Mobutu (in retrospect, one reason he was in Morocco was as part of a search to find other champions for his cause, who could pressure Mobutu back in line). For his part, Mobutu reportedly is threatening Savimbi with an aid cut-off if Savimbi doesn't agree to go into exile. Meanwhile, the Mobutu-sponsored UNITA-MPLA talks have stalled, and there have been numerous ceasefire violations on both sides.
As you know, Mobutu is also in town now. The White House tried to arrange a meeting involving Bush, Mobutu and Savimbi, but Savimbi apparently said no -- a stupid thing for him to do.
ISSUES .
Basic political situation. Savimbi's long-held fears that the Administration, at the first chance, would dump him are emerging again. One key item on his agenda is getting the Administration to commit to pushing Mobutu hard; and/or getting the Congress to pressure the Administration into that stance.
o THERE IS STRONG SUPPORT IN CONGRESS FOR CONTINUED AID TO UNITA, UNTIL THERE ARE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN ANGOLA.
o I WILL PUSH THE ADMINISTRATION TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON MOBUTU, TO COOPERATE IN ACHIEVING THAT GOAL.
O WHATEVER THE LEGITIMACY OF YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT MOBUTU, THOUGH, IT WILL SERVE YOU BETTER TO KEEP TRYING TO WORK WITH HIM -- WITHOUT CAVING ON KEY POINTS -- THAN STONEWALLING.
Cuban presence. Savimbi is charging that the Cubans are cheating on their troop withdrawal pledge. The Administration says the withdrawal is on schedule. Part of the problem is that Savimbi started out by claiming more Cubans in Angola than the Administration believed were there.
o IF THERE IS CREDIBLE EVIDENCE THE CUBANS ARE CHEATING, I'M PREPARED TO PURSUE THAT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.
Human rights abuses. One other spin-off issue: there has been a recent spate of allegations that UNITA, frustrated by the political stalemate, has turned to indiscriminate killings to intimidate the civilian population. The truth
{page 3}
-3-
seems to be that: (1) there is a plague on both houses -- like the MPLA, UNITA has been guilty of ceasefire violations, during which civilians have been killed, sometimes cruelly and needlessly; but (2) there is also a concerted effort among UNITA opponents here -- led by the Black Caucus and Transafrica -- to stir up this issue
o HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES CAN "KILL" AMERICAN SYMPATHY FOR RESISTANCE GROUPS FASTER THAN ANYTHING.
o YOU HAVE TO BE MORE THAN JUST "NO DIRTIER THAN THEY ARE;" YOU HAVE TO BE "SQUEAKY CLEAN."
{page 4}
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1989
4:30 - 5:30P.M. - S-230
MEETING WITH DR. JONAS SAVIMBI
HEAD OF UNITA (democratic resistance in Angola)
LEADERSHIP
Simpson
Chafee
Cochran
Armstrong - not sure
RANKING ON COMMITTEES
Lugar
Hatfield - no
Warner
Garn - not sure
Domenici
Danforth - not sure
McClure
Packwood
Helms - not sure
Roth - not sure
Thurmond
Hatch - not sure
Stevens
Boschwitz
Murkowski
{page 5}
P.2
DR. JONAS SAVIMBI
Head of UNITA (democratic resistance in Angola)
MEMORANDUM
Thursday, 4:30 -5:30 pm
TO: Al Lehn S-230
FROM: Stu Sweet
SUBJ: Savimbi Meeting
DATE: September 26, 1989
(1) Betty Myers needs to hear from you to lock in the 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. time slot on Thursday, October 5, 1989 in S-230.
(2) She also wants to coordinate with you on sending out invitations to the meeting to other Republican Senators.
These are our suggested invitees:
Leadership
Simpson - will drop by
Chafee - OK
Cochran OK
Armstrong - w.c.b.
Ranking on Committees
Lugar - w.c.b. - OK
Hatfield - {crossed out: w.c.b.} NO
Warner- OK
Garn - w.c.b.
Domenici - OK
web Danforth - will call back
Mcclure - OK
Packwood - OK
Helms - NOT SURE
wcb Roth - NOT SURE
Thurmond- OK
Hatch - Not SURE
Stevens - wcb yes
Boschwitz wcb
Murkowski {crossed out: NOT Su} stop by
{page 6}
P.2
DR. JONAS SAVIMBI
Head of UNITA (democratic resistance in Angola)
MEMORANDUM Thursday, 4:30 -5:30 pm
TO: Al Lehn S-230
FROM: Stu Sweet
SUBJ: Savimbi Meeting
DATE: September 26, 1989
(1) Betty Myers needs to hear from you to lock in the 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. time slot on Thursday, October 5, 1989 in S-230.
(2) She also wants to coordinate with you on sending out invitations to the meeting to other Republican Senators.
These are our suggested invitees:
Leadership
Simpson - will drop by
Chafee - OK
Cochran OK
Armstrong - w.c.b.
Ranking on Committees
Lugar - w.c.b. - OK
Hatfield - {crossed out: w.c.b.} NO
Warner- OK
Garn - w.c.b.
Domenici - OK
web Danforth - will call back
Mcclure - OK
Packwood - OK
Helms - NOT SURE
wcb Roth - NOT SURE
Thurmond- OK
Hatch - Not SURE
Stevens - wcb yes
Boschwitz wcb
Murkowski {crossed out: NOT Su} stop by
{page 7}
P.2
DR. JONAS SAVIMBI
Head of UNITA (democratic resistance in Angola)
MEMORANDUM Thursday, 4:30 -5:30 pm
TO: Al Lehn
S-230
FROM: Stu Sweet
SUBJ: Savimbi Meeting
DATE: September 26, 1989
(1) Betty Myers needs to hear from you to lock in the 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. time slot on Thursday, October 5, 1989 in S-230.
(2) She also wants to coordinate with you on sending out invitations to the meeting to other Republican Senators.
These are our suggested invitees:
Leadership
Simpson - will drop by
Chafee - OK
Cochran OK
Armstrong - w.c.b.
Ranking on Committees
Lugar - w.c.b. - OK
Hatfield - {crossed out: w.c.b.} NO
Warner- OK
Garn - w.c.b.
Domenici - OK
web Danforth - will call back
Mcclure - OK
Packwood - OK
Helms - NOT SURE
wcb Roth - NOT SURE
Thurmond- OK
Hatch - Not SURE
Stevens - wcb yes
Boschwitz wcb
Murkowski {crossed out: NOT Su} stop by

Meeting with Savimbi, October 5, 1989

Item