MFA MINISTER OF STATE ON TRADE AND LIBERIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001558

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MARR ETRD ECON
SUBJECT: MFA MINISTER OF STATE ON TRADE AND LIBERIA

REF: A. ABUJA 1503

B. STATE 250578


CLASSIFIED BY DCM RICK ROBERTS FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) AND (d).



1. (U) When then CDA Roberts delivered the Najaf demarche
(REF B) to MFA Minister of State Samaila on September 2, the
MinState raised agricultural subsidies and Liberia. The
Najaf part of the conversation was reported Ref A.


-------------- --------------
U.S./EU AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES IMPEDE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT
-------------- --------------



2. (C) Somaila emphasized that U.S. and European agricultural
subsidies posed a major obstacle to development in
Sub-Saharan Africa. Noting that 80 percent of Sub-Saharan
Africans worked in agriculture, he suggested that instead of
spending billions of dollars per year on agricultural
subsidies, the U.S. and Europe should commit those funds to
combating poverty and disease in Africa. Samaila said the
GON was committed to taking advantage of the African Growth
and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to increase agricultural exports,
and was working to comply with AGOA regulations. But
continuing U.S. and EU subsidies made those exports
uncompetitive, even under AGOA.


--------------
LIBERIA
--------------



3. (C) Samaila said the GON was committed to staying the
course in Liberia. Repeating a refrain we have heard from
President Obasanjo, Samaila said a peaceful and stable
Liberia was the key to the maintenance of peace and stability
in West Africa. While Liberia was a top GON priority,
Nigeria would need the continued assistance of the U.S. and
the international community to bring order to Liberia and to
better the lives of its people. Samaila added that Nigeria
was disappointed that the U.S. forces were not more involved
onshore in Liberia, believing that U.S. forces would join
ECOWAS in the PKO once Charles Taylor departed Liberia.



4. (C) COMMENT: Samaila's expectation of U.S. military
involvement in the Liberian PKO is not uncommon. Prior to
Taylor's departure, many Nigerians believed that only direct
U.S. intervention could settle the conflict between the GOL,
LURD and MODEL, as well as address humanitarian needs in and
around Monrovia. With Taylor's departure and Nigerian-led
ECOWAS forces in position, most Nigerians now see the
situation improving but will continue to be wary of West
African nations' ability to maintain the peace without the
financial, logistical, and if need be, military support from
the U.S. and the international community until the PKO
becomes a UN operation.
MEECE