NIGERIA PREPARED TO SIGN BILATERAL DEBT

UNCLAS ABUJA 001562 SIPDIS ALSO FOR PATRICIA ROBINSON XIM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN KTIA NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA PREPARED TO SIGN BILATERAL DEBT AGREEMENT REF: (A) WONG-GREGOIRE 082703/1920 E-MAIL AND ATTACHMENTS (NOTAL),(B) ROBINSON-WONG 082603/0835 E- MAIL AND ATTACHMENTS (NOTAL) ¶1. IN RESPONSE TO REF A, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF NIGERIA'S DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE (DMO) AKIN ARIKAWE TOLD ECON COUNSELOR AFTERNOON OF SEPTEMBER 4 THAT THE DMO IS PREPARED TO SIGN A BILATERAL DEBT AGREEMENT WITH THE USG WITHIN A WEEK; I.E., BY SEPTEMBER 12, ¶2003. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHEN WE MIGHT EXPECT A CABLE FROM WASHINGTON AUTHORIZING EMBASSY CHARGE ROGER A. MEECE (CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, A.I.) TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT. ¶2. IF POSSIBLE, MISSION WOULD PREFER TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8. FINANCE MINISTER NGOZI, WHO WILL SIGN IT ON BEHALF OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, WILL BE IN NIGERIA ONLY DURING THAT WEEK IN SEPTEMBER. ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 12, SHE WILL TO TRAVEL TO BAHRAIN FOR THE WORLD BANK AND IMF FALL MEETINGS, AND MAY NOT RETURN TO NIGERIA UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER. ¶3. PLEASE SEND US THE FINAL AGREEMENT FOR SIGNATURE BY UPS OR DHL NO LATER THAN CLOSE OF BUSINESS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, IF IT IS TO BE SIGNED NO LATER THAN THE END OF NEXT WEEK. MEECE