Tanzanian Response to UNSC Reform Proposals

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 001274 SIPDIS Sensitive E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL TZ UN UNSC SUBJECT: Tanzanian Response to UNSC Reform Proposals REF: STATE 119897 ¶1. (SBU) On June 29, Poloff discussed the talking points in reftel with the director of the Foreign Ministry's Security Council Unit, Vitalis Njiku. Mr. Njiku was just hours away from departing for Libya and the African Union Summit. He was very attentive to the details of the talking points, saying that he had heard that a US proposal was circulating, but needed to confirm the details prior to the discussions of Security Council reform at the AU summit. ¶2. (SBU) Mr. Njiku was clearly disappointed at the details of the proposal. In his interpretation, the US position that there should be no more than two new permanent seats meant "no hope for Africa." He said that Africa was the only region not represented with a permanent seat on the Security Council. He was not much mollified by the prospect of an expanded number of non- permanent seats or a longer term for non-permanent members. Mr. Njiku noted that, given a longer term, each African country would have to wait a long time to take its turn on the UNSC. He inquired about the chances that the US proposal would be approved. Mr. Njiku said that he would nonetheless discuss the proposal with his superiors, who would give it due consideration. ¶3. (U) Incidentally, the Tanzanian press reported that the chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, M.P. William Shija, has recommended that Tanzania seek a permanent seat on the Security Council. Owen