VZCZCXRO7600
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLS #0450 1750839
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 240839Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7076
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0639 C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000450 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU, STATE FOR AF/S AND AF/E 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2014 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: ZAMBIA DOES NOT RULE OUT MILITARY INTERVENTION IN 
MADAGASCAR 
 
REF: SECSTATE 63557 
 
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION MICHAEL KOPLOVSKY FOR REASONS 1. 
4(B) AND (D) 
 
  1. (C) On June 23, emboffs met with Awa Lubundi, Zambian 
Foreign Ministry Africa Division, to discuss the points in 
the reftel demarche on Madagascar. He noted that SADC does 
not promote military intervention as a measure to advance 
political progress in Madagascar, yet SADC remains open to 
employing such an alternative after all consensual 
negotiation efforts are exhausted. He also inquired how the 
USG might respond to possible SADC military intervention in 
Madagascar. Our response reiterated that the United States 
advocates peaceful resolutions to this crisis. Although 
Lubundi conceded that sending the SADC brigade was something 
SADC leaders considered during their June 20 summit in 
Johannesburg, he described it as an "unrealistic" option. 
 
 2. (C) According to the Lubundi, SADC's reticence on military 
intervention stems from its previous failed attempt to 
intercede in Lesotho during 1998. He confided that SADC 
leaders lacked confidence that a SADC brigade would be well 
received by the Malagasy people and, therefore, was likely to 
fail. He took the point regarding the need to push for 
elections and refrain from reinstating Marc Ravalomanana. 
Lubundi's comments reflected little GRZ urgency for immediate 
elections. He noted that SADC would endorse an interim 
government led, for instance, by the Head of Madagascar's 
Senate until elections are underway. 
BOOTH