NIGERIA: PARTICIPATION IN THE MARCH 18-22 UN

UNCLAS ABUJA 000499 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EFIN ETRD EAID UN SUBJECT: NIGERIA: PARTICIPATION IN THE MARCH 18-22 UN FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE REF: STATE 24465 ¶1. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is now planning to attend the UN Conference on Financing for Development. This is a change in plans from just last week. Minister of Finance Adamu Ciroma heads the delegation for the Ministerial. ¶2. We have no information on side events planned by Nigeria at Monterrey. We will meet with Special Advisor to the President Dr. Obi Ezekwesili next week to discuss Nigeria's participation. ¶3. President Obasanjo has been outspoken in his demands for debt relief for Nigeria and may see this as a venue to highlight debt relief as well as promote the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). He may, however, be amenable to the thrust of some of the new initiatives. We will follow up with more detail after meeting Dr. Ezekwesili. Jeter