Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01ABUJA2179
2001-08-31 12:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA: U.S. PRESENCE AT DURBAN

Tags:  NI PHUM PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002179 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2011
TAGS: NI PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: U.S. PRESENCE AT DURBAN


REF: STATE 151077


(U) Classified by DCM Timothy D. Andrews. Reason: 1.5(d)


C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002179

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2011
TAGS: NI PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: U.S. PRESENCE AT DURBAN


REF: STATE 151077


(U) Classified by DCM Timothy D. Andrews. Reason: 1.5(d)



1. (U) DCM delivered reftel points to MFA Permanent
Secretary Ambassador T.D. Hart shortly before 0700 EDT on

SIPDIS
Friday, August 31. Hart was aware that the Secretary would
not attend; he had seen the Secretary on CNN earlier. Hart
regretted that the U.S. might not participate at all and
offered that Nigeria hoped circumstances would change such
that U.S. attendance would be assured. Hart said he would
travel to Durban "to look in" on the WCAR and then return to
Nigeria late in the week. President Obasanjo was already in
southern Africa and would attend.



2. (C) Nigeria was displeased, Hart continued, that no
agreement could be reached on the Middle East language.
"There is a sense in which (this language) removes focus and
attention from the purpose (of the WCAR)," Hart added,
emphasizing, "We did our best to restrain the Palestinians,
...but some people will use any forum to press the points
near and dear to their hearts."



3. (C) Hart said Nigeria would use the margins to continue
its efforts to find a compromise that would allow the U.S.
delegation in Durban to join the WCAR. If the U.S. did not
participate, it would be a "big loss" for what is "supposed
to be a world conference." Nigeria felt the WCAR should look
forward. It was right to redress the current impact of past
injustice but not helpful to revisit the past.
Jeter