Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUJA177
2004-02-04 13:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

PREVENTING NIGERIAN MISSILE-RELATED COOPERATION

Tags:  PARM PREL ETTC KSCA MNUC KNNP KN NI MTCRE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000177 

SIPDIS

NP/CBM
AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC KSCA MNUC KNNP KN NI MTCRE
SUBJECT: PREVENTING NIGERIAN MISSILE-RELATED COOPERATION
WITH NORTH KOREA

REF: A. STATE 19874

B. ABUJA 149

Classified By: CDA RICK L. ROBERTS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000177

SIPDIS

NP/CBM
AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC KSCA MNUC KNNP KN NI MTCRE
SUBJECT: PREVENTING NIGERIAN MISSILE-RELATED COOPERATION
WITH NORTH KOREA

REF: A. STATE 19874

B. ABUJA 149

Classified By: CDA RICK L. ROBERTS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) February 4, CDA delivered demarche (REF A) on Nigerian
missile-related cooperation with North Korea to President
Obasanjo's National Security Advisor, LTG (ret.) Aliyu
Mohammed Gusau. CDA explained the seriousness with which the
USG views North Korean missile and WMD programs, and asked
the NSA to clarify statements made by Vice President Atiku's
spokesman January 28 referring to the transfer of ballistic
missiles or missile technology to Nigeria.


2. (C) The NSA denied, in the strongest terms, any Nigerian
interest in acquiring missiles and/or missile technology from
North Korea. He claimed North Korea had offered to sell
missiles and/or missile technology, but the GON had turned
the offer down. The NSA commented that Nigeria's strategic
interests are mainly in the West African sub-region and
ballistic missiles were simply not necessary to further those
interests. He went on to say that Nigeria was at peace with
its neighbors in the sub-region and pointed out that even the
long-festering border dispute with Cameroon was now being
settled amicably under the auspices of the United Nations.
The NSA commented the GON had better things to spend its
money on than ballistic missiles.


3. (C) COMMENT: The NSA's statements track with what other
senior GON officials have told us, but not necessarily with
what the Nigerians are telling the North Koreans (Ref B).
North Korea will likely continue to attempt to expand its
relationship with Nigeria in the near term and Nigeria will
probably be all too happy to accept any free assistance
(economic or military) that North Korea doles out.


4. (C) Other countries have tasked their missions here to
make similar demarches, including at least the UK, France and
China. Like us, they are hearing strong denials from their
Nigerian interlocutors. Like us (Ref B),they believe
Nigeria deliberately left the MOU open to North Korean
missile ties -- without necessarily wanting to follow through
on purchases -- in order to keep that option and in the
meantime get as much else as it can from the North Koreans.
END COMMENT.

Roberts