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