NIGERIA: GON STILL UNCERTAIN ABOUT TAYLOR'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001355

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/13
TAGS: PREL MASS MOPS PHUM LI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: GON STILL UNCERTAIN ABOUT TAYLOR'S
DEPARTURE


Classified By Charge Dawn Liberi. Reasons 1.5 (b) AND (d).



1. (C) During an August 7 conversation with A/DCM,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expressed
concern that Charles Taylor may try to renege on his
implied promise to leave Liberia on August 11. The
Minister realized that Taylor had only expressly
stated that he would step down on that date but
everyone was working to an August 11 departing as
well.



2. (C) A/DCM advised that the GON should send an
emissary to Monrovia to confer with Liberian Minister
of State Jonathan Taylor to begin actual logistical
preparations for Taylor departure. Minister Samaila
then called the Minister for Cooperation and African
Integration asking him to seek provision from
President Obasanjo to go to Monrovia to undertake this
task with Liberian Minister of State.


LIBERI