C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000932

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF, AF/W, AF/RSA AND NEA/IR
NSC FOR AF SENIOR DIRECTOR COURVILLE
ACCRA ALSO FOR WARP
LISBON ALSO FOR DAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: ODIP PREL EAID PINS KPKO IR PU SG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR JACOBS PRESENTS HER CREDENTIALS TO
PRESIDENT WADE

REF: JACKSON-FRAZER E-MAIL OF APRIL 14 (NOTAL)

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: During my 30-minute meeting with President
Abdoulaye Wade on April 14, we discussed the strong bilateral
relationship, U.S. assistance to Senegal, his upcoming visit
to Iran, Senegal,s Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)
proposal, counter-terrorism, conflict resolution, the
Casamance peace process, peacekeeping, health, education and
the investment climate. Wade expressed interest in an
official working visit. He spent longer with me than with
most new ambassadors and said that his door is open. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) In a colorful ceremony filled with pomp, I presented
my credentials and Ambassador Richard Roth,s letter of
recall to President Abdoulaye Wade on April 14. Wade and I
spent 30 minutes one-on-one discussing bilateral, regional
and international issues. Our meeting was longer than his
meetings with the new South Korean, Venezuelan and Thai
Ambassadors, who also presented their credentials on April 14.


3. (C) President Wade warmly welcomed me to the Presidential
Palace and emphasized the strong ties that bind our two
countries. He said he is proud of his relationship with
President Bush and hopes that he may be invited for an
official working visit. I responded that we share mutual
interests, including counter-terrorism and conflict
resolution. When I thanked him for Senegal,s peacekeeping
efforts, he said he is very pleased with Senegal,s
contributions.

U.S. ASSISTANCE
--------------

4. (SBU) Summarizing our cooperation, I noted that the
United States has provided USD 204 million in assistance
since 1998, including USD 40 million in FY-2005. I also
mentioned the President,s Malaria Initiative (PMI) of which
Wade was already aware and extremely appreciative. Wade
invited me to see how U.S., Senegalese and other donor
efforts are promoting health and education, which he said is
&the answer.8 I told him that I planned to start visiting
some of our aid projects this month; he suggested that I
might accompany Mrs. Wade on some of her trips around
Senegal. He also asked for U.S. help in attracting
businesses to Senegal.

CASAMANCE
--------------

5. (C) I asked Wade about the humanitarian situation
resulting from the fighting in northern Guinea-Bissau,
specifically asking if there is anything the United States
can do. Wade stressed that the GOGB had decided to oust
Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MFDC) Atika
leader Salif Sadio and his supporters. He noted that a
heavily mined border isolates Guinea-Bissau. He hoped that
Sadio will join the peace process, and he said that he has
asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to
see the prisoners taken by the Bissau-Guinean Army. Wade
said the most useful U.S. contribution would be road
construction and demining, which the United States is already
examining. (COMMENT: The GOGB announced shortly after my
meeting that Sadio,s headquarters had been captured. END
COMMENT.)

IRAN
--------------

6. (C) Shifting to international conflicts, Wade said that
he had asked Senior Minister for Foreign Affairs Cheikh
Tidiane Gadio to travel to Washington to inform us that Wade
has accepted an invitation to visit Tehran beginning on April
16 (Ref). Wade related that he had been invited by both the
former and current Iranian Presidents. He stated that he is
interested in mediating between Iran and the U.S. -- but only
if he can be successful. I told Wade that the U.S. is
promoting a diplomatic solution but strongly opposes Iranian
development of nuclear weapons. I also noted that Russia and
others have tried to mediate. Wade, however, seems to
believe that he might be more successful because he is Muslim.

DAKAR 00000932 002 OF 002



COMMENT
--------------

7. (C) President Wade mentioned the &strong bilateral
relationship8 three times during our conversation. He is
clearly interested in an official visit to the White House
and seemed sincere about his door being open. END COMMENT.
JACOBS