INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION ON KIDNAPPINGS IN NIGER

UNCLAS ABUJA 002087 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL NI HOSTAGES MILITANTS OIL DELTAVIOLENCE SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION ON KIDNAPPINGS IN NIGER DELTA ¶1. In response to the hostage takings of August 13, at our invitation the Chiefs of Mission in paragraph 2 met on August 14 to share information and talk about a common approach to the Nigerian government to express concern about hostage taking and its acceleration in the Delta. They agreed to send a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) requesting a meeting with the National Security Advisor (NSA) to express concern about the continued kidnappings of expatriates which has accelerated and to ask his views about the way forward. The British High Commission is taking the lead in drafting the diplomatic note, and we are taking the lead in contacting the NSA to arrange a meeting. ¶2. Present at the August 14 meeting were the ambassadors from Germany, Belgium, Norway, and Ukraine. Also present were the Dutch DCM and the British High Commission. ¶3. Not present at the meeting were the ambassadors of Ireland, Poland, and Morocco. They have citizens involved in the kidnappings and will be involved in sending the diplomatic note to MFA and in meeting with the NSA. CAMPBELL