G-4 RESOLUTION: NIGERIA WILL SUPPORT COMMON AU

UNCLAS ABUJA 001381

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KUNR AORC NI UNSC
SUBJECT: G-4 RESOLUTION: NIGERIA WILL SUPPORT COMMON AU
POSITION, WILL VOTE YES ON G4-AU COMPROMISE

REF: (A) STATE 137602 (B) ABUJA 1351


1. (SBU) On July 27, Poloff asked Ambassador Chike
Alex Anigbo, Director of the First United Nations
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),
about Nigeria's position on the G-4 resolution.


2. (SBU) Anigbo replied that the G-4 resolution and
the AU resolution were very similar, differing on very
small points only, the largest of which is veto
authority for new permanent members of the UNSC. He
said the two resolutions are converging, and that
Nigeria would take the AU position, voting for the
compromise resolution. He said he doubted either the G-
4 or the AU resolution would come up for a vote, but
even if they did, "Nigeria would prefer the
compromise." He did not say specifically what
Nigeria's vote would be on the G-4 resolution if it
were presented to the UNGA, only that Nigeria would
take the AU's position.


3. (SBU) Anigbo added that every AU member would
support the AU position. Whenever Poloff asked during
the conversation about Nigeria's specific intentions,
Anigbo stayed on message: Nigeria's position is the
position of the AU, and no AU member country will
diverge from the AU position.

CAMPBELL