R 081601Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9838
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
CIA WASHDC
REUKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000097 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:          
SUBJECT: NAMIBIA TO REVIEW U.S. SOFA PROPOSAL 
 
REF: (A) 07 Windhoek 542, (B) 07 STATE 117159 
 
 1.  (U) During a March 7 meeting, the Ambassador told Foreign 
Minister Marco Hausiku that the USG would be pleased to enter into 
negotiations to discuss the draft Status of Forces Agreement that 
the Embassy provided to MFA officials in November 2007 (ref A) and 
the Ambassador again delivered on April 27 in the form of a letter 
to the Foreign Minister.  The Ambassador explained that the SOFA 
text in and of itself was not specifically related to AFRICOM, ACOTA 
or other programs that the GRN may or may not agree with; however, 
it was a general text that would govern bilateral military 
cooperation.  As such the USG welcomed discussions and negotiations 
on its content to ensure it fit our bilateral needs. 
 
 2.  (U) Hausiku said the MFA would put the draft text through 
internal review procedures and would get back to us in the future. 
Without indicating a preference for or against negotiating a SOFA, 
Hausiku said that he appreciated a relationship in which we could be 
honest with each other about our expectations. 
 
Meeting Participants 
-------------------- 
 
 3.  (U) Hausiku included in the meeting all his senior staff 
members: Permanent Secretary Ambassador Veiccoh Ngihwete, Deputy PS 
Ambassador Hinyangerwa Asheeke, Head of Multilateral Affairs 
Ambassador Martin Andjanba, Head of Bilateral Affairs Ambassador 
Wilbard Helao, Deputy Director for Bilateral Affairs Jerobeam 
Shaanika, and U.S. Desk Officer Morina Muujondjo.  Poloff attended 
as notetaker. 
 
MATHIEU