UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002683

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O
AF/E, AF/EPS AND AF/RSA
NSC WASHDC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PGOV ETRD ET
SUBJECT: LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH FROM AU CHAIRMAN NGUESSO


The following text is from a letter received by U.S. Embassy
Addis Ababa on October 4, 2006 from the Commission of the
African Union. The letter is dated August 14, 2006 and is
written by H.E. Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the
Republic of Congo and Chairman of the African Union to H.E.
Mr. George Bush, President of the United States of America.

Begin Text:

"Your Excellency,

As your Excellency may be aware the Member States of the
African Union are determined to meet the challenge of
sustainable development and poverty eradication. This is
evident from our increasing commitment to policy reforms,
good governance, democracy, and conflict prevention and
resolution. We very much welcome the support that the
international community, particularly your nation, has
provided to our development efforts through debt relief and
aid.

In the current era of globalization, we strongly believe that
a significant improvement in Africa's trade performance and
the effective integration of our continent into the
multilateral trading system are sine qua non for the
achievement of sustainable development and eradication of
poverty among our peoples. This accounts for the strong
commendation that AU Member States have given to the
commitment undertaken in Doha in November 2001 to place
development at the center of the new Round of WTO
Negotiations and for their heavy investment in the
negotiations despite their capacity constraints and limited
financial, institutional and human resources.

It is against this background that the AU regrets the setback
in the Doha Round of Negotiations which have now been
suspended sine die. We are deeply concerned that the
collapse of the talks and failure to deliver on its
development promises will make it difficult for our countries
to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and achieve
rapid and sustainable economic growth and development.

The Doha Development Agenda remains relevant for meeting the
challenge of development in Africa and the largest
development in the negotiations should not be allowed to
frustrate Africa's legitimate and high hopes on the
development promises of the Round. The suspension of
negotiations should not protract any further as it is
tantamount to putting on hold these promises. Africa has the
greatest need of the multilateral trading system's support to
increase its trade potentials and make trade an engine of
growth and development.

On our part, we the Member States of the AU will continue to
show our constructive attitude and support to the entire
process of the negotiations so that the Round can come to a
successful conclusion. It is however necessary for other WTO
members, particularly those that are in a position of
leadership in the negotiations, to respond urgently to the
call for flexibilities and compromises in the interest of the
common good of the multilateral trading system and of Africa.
The negotiations should resume as a matter of utmost urgency.

The AU Member States wish to emphasize the importance of the
overall balance that characterized the launch of the Doha
Round in 2001 and the imperative of translation the
development promises into reality. Any outcome package of
negotiations that unravels the balance and ignores the
development dimensions will be difficult to accept by African
countries, as it will not help to meet the MDGs and lift our
peoples from poverty.

Mr. President, the African Union is through the medium of
this letter seeking your support and that of your great
country for early resumption and successful completion of the
Negotiations, with the development dimensions at the center
as agreed in Doha.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest
esteem.

Denis Sassou Nguesso
President of the Republic of Congo and
Chairman of the African Union"

End text.

Original letter to follow.
HUDDLESTON