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