Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUJA884
2007-05-07 12:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: RUSSIA CONGRATULATES YAR'ADUA
how-toVZCZCXRO7472 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0884 1271231 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071231Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9431 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0314 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0310 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 6791 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0077 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000884
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12598: DECL: 05/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: RUSSIA CONGRATULATES YAR'ADUA
Classified by Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 15
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000884
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12598: DECL: 05/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: RUSSIA CONGRATULATES YAR'ADUA
Classified by Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 15
(b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. The Russian Ambassador delivered a
message of congratulations to President-elect Yar'adua
from Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 3. He said
that Yar'adua has asked to be received in Moscow before
the latter's inauguration as President of Nigeria on May
29 though not by Putin. The Russian Ambassador noted
that Yar'adua and Putin would meet at the G-8 in Germany
in early June. End Summary.
2. (A) Igor Melikhov, the Ambassador of the Russian
Federation to Nigeria, called on the Ambassador in Abuja
on May 4. Amb. Melikhov is based in Lagos and rarely
comes to Abuja. He said that on May 3, he had delivered
to Yar'adua a message of congratulations from Putin. He
said that the Nigerians had asked for Yar'adua to be
received in Moscow before inauguration day on May 29.
While this was likely to happen, it would not be at the
Putin level because of scheduling and other issues.
Besides, Melikhov said, the two would see each other at
the G-8 meeting in Germany in early June.
3. (C) Melikhov said that Russia had held off sending
congratulations until after May 1, Nigeria's Independence
Day. But, he continued, when he saw there were no political
demonstrations, he had concluded that the Nigerian
people had accepted the results of the elections, which
he admitted were highly flawed. So, he had recommended
to Moscow that it send the letter of congratulations.
4. (C) Comment: Melikhov appeared unaware of police
confiscation of posters with political themes at May Day
rallies in Abuja and perhaps elsewhere. Similarly, he
was also unaware than up to 500 persons had been
detained by the Nigerian security services over the May
Day holiday (Septel).
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12598: DECL: 05/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: RUSSIA CONGRATULATES YAR'ADUA
Classified by Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 15
(b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. The Russian Ambassador delivered a
message of congratulations to President-elect Yar'adua
from Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 3. He said
that Yar'adua has asked to be received in Moscow before
the latter's inauguration as President of Nigeria on May
29 though not by Putin. The Russian Ambassador noted
that Yar'adua and Putin would meet at the G-8 in Germany
in early June. End Summary.
2. (A) Igor Melikhov, the Ambassador of the Russian
Federation to Nigeria, called on the Ambassador in Abuja
on May 4. Amb. Melikhov is based in Lagos and rarely
comes to Abuja. He said that on May 3, he had delivered
to Yar'adua a message of congratulations from Putin. He
said that the Nigerians had asked for Yar'adua to be
received in Moscow before inauguration day on May 29.
While this was likely to happen, it would not be at the
Putin level because of scheduling and other issues.
Besides, Melikhov said, the two would see each other at
the G-8 meeting in Germany in early June.
3. (C) Melikhov said that Russia had held off sending
congratulations until after May 1, Nigeria's Independence
Day. But, he continued, when he saw there were no political
demonstrations, he had concluded that the Nigerian
people had accepted the results of the elections, which
he admitted were highly flawed. So, he had recommended
to Moscow that it send the letter of congratulations.
4. (C) Comment: Melikhov appeared unaware of police
confiscation of posters with political themes at May Day
rallies in Abuja and perhaps elsewhere. Similarly, he
was also unaware than up to 500 persons had been
detained by the Nigerian security services over the May
Day holiday (Septel).
CAMPBELL