KUFUOR'S TRIP TO ADDIS ABABA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 002165

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

ADDIS PLEASE PASS TO AFRICAN UNION

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC GH
SUBJECT: KUFUOR'S TRIP TO ADDIS ABABA


Classified By: CHARGE SUE K. BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 10, Chief of State Protocol
Ambassador Kobina Wudu told poloff that on President Kufuor,s
recent trip to Ethiopia, Kufuor met with Ethiopian Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi and paid a courtesy call on German
Chancellor Angela Merkel. While most of the trip focused on
African Union (AU) issues, bilateral discussions between
Kufuor and Zenawi centered on economic matters and adding
members to the Peer Review Mechanism. The two also shared a
&long8 private lunch in which Somalia was likely discussed
in detail. Wudu also suggested that Tanzania would probably
assume
the Chairmanship of the AU after Ghana. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On October 10, Chief of State Protocol Ambassador
Kobina Wudu briefed poloff on President Kufuor's October
4-6 trip to Ethiopia, which followed Kufuor's visit to UNGA
and subsequent holiday in the UK. Wudu said the main
purpose of Kufuor,s visit to Addis Ababa was to be present
as African Union (AU) Chair for the visit of German
Chancellor Angela Merkel. Kufuor wore his AU hat for most
of the visit although he did meet bilaterally with Merkel,
Ethiopian President Girma Woldegiorgis, and Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi. Wudu characterized Merkel's trip as
a symbol of Africa's importance to Germany and said Germany
had
signaled that it wants to lend more support to Africa.


3. (C) In Kufuor,s bilateral meeting with Ethiopian PM
Zenawi,
Wudu said the discussion centered on Ethiopia's economic
development. Wudu opined that Ethiopia is a good model for
Ghana
to follow and extolled Ethiopia,s progress. The two sides
also discussed adding more African states to the African
Peer Review Mechanism. Wudu said Zenawi invited Kufuor
to a private lunch following the bilateral meeting. While
Wudu was not privy to details of the &long8 conversation,
he said
the conversation likely centered on Somalia given Zenawi,s
&intimate8 knowledge about Somalia. Wudu was highly
complimentary
of Zenawi throughout the meeting, referring to him as
"sharp,"
"in charge," and "not corrupt."


4. (C) Wudu characterized Kufuor's meeting with Merkel as a
courtesy call, but said a dinner with Kufuor, Zenawi and
Merkel provided some lively discussion. Democratic
reforms were discussed, and each side expressed its concern
about Darfur and hoped the Hybrid Force would be deployed
before the end of the year. Everyone, Wudu said, was
dismayed at the recent attack on peacekeepers in Darfur and
Wudu said a Nigerian General told him separately that the
Sudanese government was involved in this and other attacks.
Wudu said the Ethiopian/Eritrean border dispute remains a
serious problem and Ghana is very concerned about it,
although nothing was resolved during this visit. He said it
is a complex issue, and added that Ethiopia will
likely not budge on its position since natural resources are
at
stake. Wudu, for good measure, added that Eritrea,s
side to the disagreement is also very important to consider.


5. (C) Noting that Ghana's chairmanship of the African Union
(AU) will come to an end early next year, Wudu said that he
expects an East African country to take over from Ghana in
keeping with the rotation, and suggested Tanzania would
assume leadership of the AU. Uganda, Wudu said, is a strong
candidate, but it is currently the Commonwealth Chair,
which, in Wudu's view, would make it impractical for it to
also serve as AU Chair. He dismissed both Kenya and Sudan
as candidates.


6. (C) Wudu also reflected on his time as State Protocol
Director
and said his job and the jobs of many others in government
have
become and will become much more difficult in this final
year of Kufuor,s administration. He said he and others
receive many more phone and office calls than usual (his
waiting room was standing room only) asking for favors,
since no one knows who will be in power after the 2008
elections and everyone wants to &get what they can8 now.
BROWN