AGIP EMPLOYEES RELEASED SAFELY

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001050 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER STATE PASS DOC FOR PHUPER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD STATE PASS OPIC FOR CDUFFY STATE PASS TDA FOR BTERNET STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2016 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER PINR NI SUBJECT: AGIP EMPLOYEES RELEASED SAFELY REF: A. LAGOS 1029 ¶B. 1043 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) ¶1. (SBU) ConocoPhillips, a joint venture partner of AGIP, said approximately forty AGIP employees and Nigerian military held by local youths at the AGIP flow station in Bayelsa State since 25 July had been released on July 30. Nigerian press quoted a government aide saying that no ransom was paid, but that the youths were given assurances their demand - the signing of a new memorandum of understanding - would be met. ¶2. (C) Comment: ConocoPhillips noted both AGIP and its Italian parent company, ENI, kept a tight lip regarding the negotiations, terms of agreement, and any possible payments. ConocoPhillips knows little more than the issue has been resolved. End comment. BROWNE