NIGERIA RESPONDS TO U.S. ICAO COUNCIL CANDIDACY

UNCLAS ABUJA 001974 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAIR NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA RESPONDS TO U.S. ICAO COUNCIL CANDIDACY WITH REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR ITS CANDIDACY REF: (A) STATE 131233 (B) ABUJA 983 ¶1. Sensitive but Unclassified, please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) On August 6, Econoff presented Ref A demarche to Mr. Kabir Ilyasu, Minister-Counselor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Second United Nations Division (SUND). Ilyasu was aware of the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) election, and commented that he did not believe the U.S. would have any problem with its re-election bid as a Category One country. ¶3. (SBU) Ilyasu stated that Nigeria was seeking re-election as a Category Two country, and was also requesting support for its re-election bid. Ilyasu indicated that a number of countries have expressed support for Nigeria,s candidacy, specifically mentioning a positive response from Japan. When Econoff presented Reftel talking points/non-paper, Mr. Ilyasu commented that the GON would have preferred "official correspondence" in the form of a diplomatic note. He offered that the GON would support the U.S. candidacy, with the understanding that the USG would support Nigeria's candidacy as well. (Comment. As was mentioned in Ref B, the GON requested USG support in May 2001 for its ICAO Council candidate. End Comment.) ¶4. (SBU) Econoff thanked the Minister-Counselor for informing the USG about Nigeria's candidacy as a Category Two country and advised that the USG would give Nigeria's re-election bid full consideration. However, Econoff made clear that he was not in a position to respond to Ilyasu's quid pro quo offer. Econoff asked if Ilyasu was aware of any countries seeking election as a Category Two, which did not presently have that status or potentially would as a group representative. Ilyasu replied that he believed South Africa was seeking election as a Category Two country. Jeter