Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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05ACCRA1282 | 2005-06-30 18:12:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Accra |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 USNW-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-00 DCP-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-00 OIG-00 OMB-00 NIMA-00 MCC-00 PER-00 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 FMP-00 BBG-00 IIP-00 SCRS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 G-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /002W ------------------0CC1FB 301957Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8823 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY LONDON DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC USDOC WASHDC 0445 MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP |
UNCLAS ACCRA 001282 |
1. Summary: The Ambassador met Ghanaian Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo on June 28 to deliver demarches on UN reforms. Akufo-Addo said Ghana supports most of the USG priorities in UN reform, including creation of a Democracy Fund, reform of the UN Human Rights Commission, the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission, budgetary/management reform, and the Convention on Terrorism. He expects a coordinated African initiative on UNSC reform. Ghana understands our views on ODA and development, he said. He had expounded on the GOG's view of G-8 debt/aid issues in a meeting with G-8 Ambassadors on the previous day, June 27, arguing that debt relief should be extended to all African countries and all aid should be channeled through multilateral institutions. End summary. 2. On June 28, the Ambassador met with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo to deliver demarche on USG priorities for UN reform and to review the USG position on debt prior to the G-8 meeting. (Note: This demarche was not delivered earlier because of the Ambassador's absence from post. End note.) Ambassador orally presented and solicited feedback on the talking points from reftels A-C, and provided a copy of detailed background points on the G-8 Finance Ministers' Agreement on 100 Percent Multilateral Debt Relief, explaining that this had USG support (ref D). -------------------------- The UN Demarche -------------------------- 3. Akufo-Addo had the following response to the UN reform points: Overall comment: The Minister expressed his appreciation for our articulation of the U.S. views. Ghana has significant common ground with the USG on the issue of UN reform. The time has come for serious reforms. There should be significant progress in September, "not more delay and discussion". This is not only Ghana's view, but reflects a wider African consensus. The UN has served its purpose well in the past but "we need to look forward". Development: The GOG understands the USG position on ODA and our emphasis on mobilizing domestic resources through trade and investment. Support for Democracy Initiatives and the Democracy Fund: The GOG welcomes the Democracy Fund as a good idea. Budget, Management and Administrative Reform: There is broad support for the need to reform the management of the UN. The GOG supports this effort to "tighten up" management. Creation of a Human Rights Council: The GOG clearly accepts the need to reform the Human Rights Commission and supports the Secretary General's idea of a Human Rights Council. The GOG does not support universal membership and endorses representative membership from responsible countries. (In addition, in a June 20 meeting, MFA Supervising Director for Legal and Multilateral Affairs Nana Bemi Kumi told PolChief that Ghana would have no problem changing the name of the Commission to a Council and that the GOG would be consulting other African governments about Human Rights Commission reform, including at the African Union meeting in Libya.) Creation of a Peacebuilding Commission: The GOG is "keen on" this idea and recognizes there are issues to be worked out regarding the correct mandate of the Commission and its location. Adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism: There is broad support for this convention. The debate about defining terrorism cannot continue. He hopes there will be broad support in September to move this convention forward. UNSC Reform: The USG needs to be clearer about how it will respond to competing demands for Security Council representation. He said the GOG and others are all waiting for the U.S. to make its decision (or articulate its views). The GOG is aware of the USG's support for a Japanese UNSC seat and our support for the concept of expansion. A coordinated African initiative on this issue has strong support and is likely to move forward. -------------------------- G-8 Issues -------------------------- 4. The demarche followed a meeting on June 27, in which the Foreign Minister convoked the Ambassador, her G-8 colleagues, and representatives of many African countries invited to the G-8 to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the G-8 agenda. 5. Akufo-Addo said Gleneagles was the most important G-8 meeting for African nations in history, calling it a "watershed". He expressed gratitude for the debt relief decision which was reaffirmed in the recent meetings in Washington between Presidents Bush and Kufuor. It is seen as a significant gesture from rich to poor nations, giving nations a chance to begin again without the burdens of the past. He appreciated Ghana's inclusion as one of 18 eligible HIPC countries. 6. However, he argued that Ghana and the other African reps believe that this debt forgiveness should be continent-wide, not just for the 18 HIPC nations, and he said President Kufuor had made this point to President Bush. Akufo-Addo raised the concern that the debt relief announcement did not make clear the cutoff date. African countries prefer it to take effect as of the time of the announcement in May, and will seek this at Gleneagles. 7. Akufo-Addo understood that future assistance from G-8 countries would depend on good governance and said African countries accept their responsibility on governance issues, citing recent events in South Africa and Nigeria. He praised the International Finance Fund as innovative and encouraging. While he welcomed debt relief, there was also a a need for additional resources, saying this will be a priority for African countries at Gleneagles. President Kufuor made it clear in Washington and in Abuja at the NEPAD meeting that whatever assistance is forthcoming should be centralized and administered by multilateral institutions. According to the Foreign Minister, Kufuor told President Bush in Washington that the 0.7 percent ODA target for the developed world should be honored immediately -- not in 10 years time. Developing countries need this assistance now and will hopefully be more independent in ten years, he stressed. 8. Akufo-Addo's remarks in the G-8 meeting mirrored comments made by President Kufuor on June 16 upon his return from Washington. Kufuor used an airport press conference to note that he had asked President Bush for debt relief for every African country, handled through the World Bank and IMF to "de-politicize the process". He said that in his meeting with Secretary Rice he had asked for increased assistance to Ghana, and that the Secretary had told him to "keep up the good work." YATES NNNN |