NIGERIAN DEMARCHE ON UNGASS RESOLUTION ON HIV/AIDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001264 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2011 TAGS: PREL XA IO TBIO NI UNGA SUBJECT: NIGERIAN DEMARCHE ON UNGASS RESOLUTION ON HIV/AIDS AND CUBA EMBARGO REF: SECSTATE 95264 Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; Reasons 1.5 (B/D). ¶1. (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche regarding Cuba trade embargo language in the HIV/AIDS draft resolution the morning of June 1. Minister-Counsellor Katherine Jackden, UN 2nd Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is handling UNGASS preparations, received the demarche. Ms. Jackden agreed that side issues could detract from the intensive focus on the AIDS problem, and that political differences should be set aside in the fight against HIV/AIDS. She said she would communicate the demarche talking points to her "highest superiors" immediately. She declined to take a position on the Cuba trade embargo language, saying "consultations" with the Nigerian delegation to the PrepCom would be necessary. ¶2. (C) During a previously-scheduled call by the Ambassador on MFA Permanent Secretary T.D. Hart later in the day, we again raised the issue. Hart said he thought the GON would agree that the HIV/AIDS fight should not be politicized by bilateral U.S. - Cuban issues. Hart asked for specific references from the draft resolution and said he would try to have the GON weigh in with Cuba at a high level. Perhaps, time permitting, the GON could convince a few other African countries to demarche Havana also, he said. Note: we subsequently obtained the relevant text from AF/EPS and delivered them to Hart. End note. ¶2. (C) Comment. Although the Nigerians often agree with us in broad terms that non-ideological issues such as HIV/AIDS should be dicussed without distracting side issues, there exists a strong propensity to support fellow members of the NAM and the G-77. However, Hart is a senior and very experienced diplomat. His strong positive reaction indicates that Nigeria will very likely try hard to convince Cuba to back down. But we cannot be certain what Nigeria will do if Cuba sticks to its guns on the floor of the PrepCom. End comment. Jeter