NIGERIA: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 002449 SIPDIS SIPDIS ENERGY FOR CAROLYN GAY E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL CVIS ECON MASS NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER MADUEKWE Classified By: CDA Lisa Piascik for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During a November 12 meeting with the Deputy Secretary and AF A/S Frazer, Foreign Minister (FM) Ojo SIPDIS Maduekwe praised the relationship between Nigeria and the United States and acknowledged shared interests such as peacekeeping. The FM was concerned, however, over travel advisories, the U.S. visa process, and what he saw as a lack of support in several areas, including the illegal trade in small arms to the Niger Delta. Maduekwe requested support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD),asked for additional information regarding a Nigerian troop deployment to Somalia and raised the issue of UN Security Council reform. Maduekwe also agreed to work collaboratively to ensure Cote d'Ivoire implements the Ouagadougou process. END SUMMARY. -------------- BILATERAL RELATIONS -------------- ¶2. (C) Foreign Minister Maduekwe said he is grateful for the strong relations between Nigeria and the United States, which he believes President Yar'Adua will work to strengthen. According to Maduekwe, Yar'Adua's September 2007 meeting with Secretary Rice during UNGA was encouraging to the GON since SIPDIS it underlined many common interests, such as peacekeeping and the Gulf of Guinea Security Initiative. ¶3. (C) Maduekwe was concerned, however, over the predominance of one export, oil, in Nigeria's trade with the U.S. and with the lack of American investment in Nigeria. The Deputy Secretary informed the FM that the Assistant United States SIPDIS Trade Representative would be in Nigeria December 11 and 12 to meet with the Minister of Commerce and other GoN officials regarding a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA); those meetings would provide a perfect opportunity to discuss such trade issues. ¶4. (C) Maduekwe complained that U.S. travel advisories give Nigeria a bad reputation and discourage foreign investment. MFA Permanent Secretary Hakeem Baba-Ahmed suggested that the advisories should be more narrowly defined, and specify areas where there is possible danger (i.e. the Niger Delta) rather than painting all Nigeria in a negative light. ¶5. (C) Baba-Ahmed said the process of obtaining U.S. visas was a "constant irritant" for the GON. The MFA gets numerous complaints from people whose names are similar to those on USG watch lists and have to wait long periods for clearance. Baba-Ahmed said these delays build a negative perception of the United States. The Deputy Secretary said that clearances usually are handled expeditiously but often require interagency agreement, and he suggested the Permanent Secretary alert Embassy officials if there are particular SIPDIS cases he feels are sensitive. -------------- PEACEKEEPING IN DARFUR -------------- ¶6. (C) Maduekwe noted that Nigeria has the most peacekeeping troops in Darfur. The FM recently traveled to Sudan to deliver a message from President Yar'Adua urging Sudan to accept UN-AU hybrid forces. During the meeting, Sudanese President Bashir complained that there are more non-AU troops than AU troops in Darfur, despite promises from the UN. Bashir was upset that the UN Secretary General did not call him directly to discuss the situation. Maduekwe said he reminded Bashir that Nigeria is a major stakeholder in the establishment of peace in Darfur, especially now that they have lost seven soldiers in their efforts. The Deputy Secretary agreed to stay in close contact with the FM SIPDIS regarding Darfur. -------------- SMALL ARMS IN THE DELTA -------------- ¶7. (C) Maduekwe said he is very concerned over the illegal trade in small arms in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region. Maduekwe requested assistance from the U.S. to ABUJA 00002449 002 OF 003 combat the problem. The Deputy Secretary reminded the FM that the U.S has offered to assist Nigeria with tracing weapons through serial numbers, and suggested that we needed to discuss possible strategies to ensure this happens. -------------- TROOPS TO SOMALIA -------------- ¶8. (C) Baba-Ahmed confirmed that Nigeria is still committed to deploying one battalion of peacekeepers to Somalia, but said the GON needs more information on how the troops will be deployed. He further requested a discussion involving all parties, including representatives of the Islamic courts, on effective strategies for bringing peace to Somalia. Maduekwe noted that Nigeria needs a more specific commitment from the U.S. for logistical support. Assistant Secretary Frazer reminded the FM that the U.S. has offered Nigeria three million dollars to train, equip and defray the cost of deploying troops to Somalia. -------------- UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM -------------- ¶9. (C) Maduekwe said UN reform is a key issue for Nigeria and requested U.S. support for reform of the UN Security Council. The Foreign Minister said that Africa's lack of a permanent seat on the Security Council deprived a huge part of the world of a say in decisions that affect their lives. Baba-Ahmed added that at the upcoming AU/EU meeting in Portugal, Nigeria intends to ask one of the European countries currently on the council to step down to make room for an African country. A/S Frazer said the U.S. is in favor of moderate expansion of the UNSC but described the formula the AU submitted, requesting two or three new permanent members with veto powers, as not feasible. She called for the AU to come up with a more viable proposal. The Deputy Secretary concurred that the United States would be in favor SIPDIS of moderate expansion of the UNSC as long as it did not undercut effectiveness. -------------- COTE D'IVOIRE -------------- ¶10. (C) The Deputy Secretary asked the Foreign Minister's view on the peace process in Cote D'Ivoire, stressing the importance of disarmament, registering citizens and holding elections. According to the Permanent Secretary, President Yar'Adua firmly believes Cote d'Ivoire must make the process work and lead to free and fair elections. The Deputy Secretary said the longer Cote d'Ivoire delays elections, the SIPDIS more difficult it will be for Ivoiriens to reconcile. Baba-Ahmed said the GON is open to suggestions as to how it can best assist the process. Maduekwe said he would send a signal to Cote d'Ivoire that the "fires need to be put out." -------------- NEPAD SUPPORT -------------- ¶11. (C) Maduekwe requested assistance from the U.S. on building Nigeria's infrastructure through support of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). A/S Frazer said the U.S. supports NEPAD and is a part of the process. Frazer also pointed out that the U.S. finances infrastructure projects through the Millennium Challenge Corporation; she encouraged Nigeria to keep working on its MCC scores so that it may become eligible for funding. ¶12. (SBU) Participants: U.S. John D. Negroponte, Deputy Secretary Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Lisa A. Piascik, Charge d'Affaires a.i. Gustavo Delgado, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary Ted Wittenstein, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary Terry Pflaumer, Political Counselor Robert J. Tansey, Economic Counselor Nyree Tripptree, Embassy Notetaker ABUJA 00002449 003 OF 003 Nigeria Ojo Maduekwe, Foreign Minister Ambassador Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Permanent Secretary Ambassador Eineje E. Onobu, Director of Regions Ambassador A.A. Sekudo, Director of African Affairs Ambassador Chike Alex Anigbo, Director of the Office of the Foreign Minister A.S. Ogah, Deputy Chief of Protocol Dr. Sam Amadi, Special Assistant to the Foreign Minister ¶13. (U) The Deputy Secretary's staff has cleared this message. PIASCIK