Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAKAR1086
2006-05-08 15:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:  

TRAVEL, DARFUR, MCA AND U.S. ASSISTANCE ON WADE'S

Tags:  PREL OVIP EAID KMCA PHUM SG 
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VZCZCXRO7265
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHDK #1086 1281552
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081552Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5047
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0725
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001086 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CPR, AF, AF/SPG AND AF/W
AID/W FOR AFR/WA
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
PARIS ALSO FOR USMISSION TO UNESCO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2016
TAGS: PREL OVIP EAID KMCA PHUM SG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL, DARFUR, MCA AND U.S. ASSISTANCE ON WADE'S
MIND

Classified By: Ambassador Janice L. Jacobs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001086

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CPR, AF, AF/SPG AND AF/W
AID/W FOR AFR/WA
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
PARIS ALSO FOR USMISSION TO UNESCO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2016
TAGS: PREL OVIP EAID KMCA PHUM SG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL, DARFUR, MCA AND U.S. ASSISTANCE ON WADE'S
MIND

Classified By: Ambassador Janice L. Jacobs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: President Wade asked the Ambassador to meet
with him on May 4. The 30-minute meeting covered his
upcoming trip to the United States, France and Switzerland; a
potential official trip later this year to meet with
President Bush and to sign the Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA) Compact; U.S. assistance to Senegal, and Darfur. On
Darfur, Wade said that the offer on the table did not go far
enough for the rebels. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Ambassador Jacobs, accompanied by Vice Consul Thomas
Chojnacki (notetaker),met with President Abdoulaye Wade for
a wide-ranging discussion on May 5. Wade began by asking how
the Ambassador was settling in. He then discussed his
upcoming trip to New York City, May 10-12, to launch Radio
and Television of Senegal (RTS) satellite broadcasts to North
America and the Caribbean. RTS is also going to work on a
documentary on the African diaspora to be shown when Wade
travels to the Caribbean and South America this summer. He
mentioned that from New York he will travel to Paris to
receive UNESCO,s Felix Houphouet-Boigny Prize and then go on
to Geneva for a Digital Solidarity event.


3. (C) During the U.S. portion of the trip, Wade said he
would like to meet or speak with A/S Frazer to discuss
Darfur. He believes that the rebels must be offered a better
deal, saying they will not give up their arms unless they
have incentive to do so, such as autonomy. (COMMENT: This is
a notable position, given Wade's unwillingness to negotiate
concessions with the Movement of Democratic Forces of the
Casamance (MFDC). END COMMENT.)

4 (SBU) Wade stated that the White House has contacted his
office regarding a potential visit to Washington at the end
of 2006. Wade would like to finalize plans for an official
working visit and hoped that the MCA Compact could be signed
on that trip.


5. (SBU) Finally, Wade mentioned that he had seen an article
that mentioned that U.S. aid to Senegal had decreased.
Ambassador Jacobs clarified, explaining that while
USAID/Senegal,s budget has decreased, the increase in other
forms of assistance, including military assistance and MCA
funds, more than offset the reduction in USAID assistance; in
fact, USG assistance to Senegal is rising, with total
assistance in 2005 of USD 42 million.


6. (C) COMMENT: The reported decrease in aid and Wade's
desire for an official working visit were clearly on his
mind. Nonetheless, he was relaxed and appeared vigorous. He
discussed his writing, showed models of his building
projects, and was is no hurry to conclude the meeting. END
COMMENT.
JACKSON