NIGERIAN FM ON DARFUR, UNSC RACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002839

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC SU NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN FM ON DARFUR, UNSC RACE


Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador called on Nigerian Foreign
Minister Joy Ogwu October 27. Minister Ogwu briefed the
Ambassador on her recent travel to Sudan and the GON's
thinking on the way ahead in Darfur, seemed to indicate
support for Venezuela in the UNSC race, and talked about her
desire to improve facilities, capacity, and morale at the
Foreign Ministry. End Summary.


2. (C) Ambassador told Minister Ogwu that US Special Envoy
Andrew Natsios had recently visited Sudan and stressed the
USG's continuing concern about the deteriorating situation in
Darfur. He asked the Minister for her assesment of the
situation and any advice she and the Nigerian government had
on the way ahead. Minister Ogwu explained that she was sent
to Khartoum as an African Union (AU) special envoy in
mid-October. She said that it was a "difficult" trip, during
which she and her Senegalese counterpart met with President
Bashir and attempted to allay his fears about a UN
peacekeeping force in Darfur. Ogwu reported that she thought
she had made some progress with Bashir during their meeting,
but she is frustrated that he remains intransigent. She
believes that Bashir has a "fundamental, perhaps irrational
mistrust of the United States" which colors his actions.
Ogwu compared Bashir to a "spider in a tangled web" and said
that the international community must find a way to "help him
find his way out."


3. (C) Ogwu expressed some frustration that other African
leaders have not spoken out on the situation in Sudan as
clearly as Nigeria has. She referred to the statements she
and President Obasanajo made in September and October,
including Obasanjo's call for a UN peacekeeping mission in
Darfur as the AMIS peacekeepers are being "overwhelmed" and
"it is not in the interest of the world to see genocide
develop in Darfur." Minister Ogwu strongly recommended that
the United States use its developing diplomatic relationship
with Libya to ask Qadafi to encourage President Bashir to
move in the right direction. Ogwu explained that in her
view, only Libya and China may be able to sway the Government
of Sudan. She felt that Tripoli was more likely to play a
positive role than Bejing.


4. (C) Ambassador brought up the race between Venezuela and
Guatemala for the Latin American United Nations Security
Council seat. Ambassador stressed that a problem with
Venezuela's candidacy is that President Chavez has expressed
contempt for the UN system and would likely be destructive of
that system. He noted that the US has supported candidacy of
other countries with whom we don't see eye to eye because
despite our disagreements we thought they would be productive
on the security council. Minister Ogwu noted that she "knows
how the US feels" and said that she had discussed the race
with the Guatemalan Foreign Minister while she was in New
York. She advised that the USG should "forget about"
Chavez's antics at UNGA, which were "theatrical" with no real
anger or meaning behind them. (Note: We read this comment
to mean that Nigeria will support Venezuela's candidacy,
despite US objections. End note.)


5. (U) Ogwu emphasized that she looks forward to
strengthening as an institution the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. She lamented the dilapated building that currently
houses the Ministry and explained that she is trying to push
for expedited construction of the new facility. (Note: The
new MFA building has been under construction for years with
little visible progress. End note.) Minister Ogwu explained
that the MFA's crowded, shabby facility is "psychologically
demoralizing" to its staff and does not present the proper
image of Nigeria to visiting diplomats. As an interim
measure, Ogwu says that she has started monthly "clean up"
days, during which MFA staff are asked to pitch in to improve
conditions at the Ministry. She noted that during her nearly
30 years at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs
(NIIA),training of diplomats was part of her brief, and she
looks forward to improving the training offered to Nigerian
diplomats through the MFA's own academy. Ogwu said that the
Ministry is lucky that President Obasanjo is deeply
interested in international affairs and is a presence on the
world stage. She pointed out that Nigeria is unlikely to
have a president again in many years with so high an
international reputation, so it is important to
"institutionalize" Obasanjo's foreign policy leadership
within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and build upon it in
future administrations.


6. (C) Comment: Minister Ogwu was soft-spoken, extremely
cordial, and comfortable discussing a range of policy issues.
She prefers to jump straight into business, rather than
opening with small talk or pleasantries. Her breadth of
knowledge about international affairs and Nigeria's role on
the world stage was abundantly clear. Attempting to reform
and reinvigorate Nigeria's Foreign Ministry staff is a large
task, but Ogwu is certainly an appropriate woman for the job.
Embassy will continue to build our relationship with the
Minister and will investigate whether we may be able to
provide support for improved diplomatic training through an
International Visitor or other exchange program for senior
ministry staff. End Comment.
CAMPBELL