Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANTANANARIVO100
2007-01-31 13:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:  

COMOROS EAGER FOR BILATERAL TALKS WITH U.S.

Tags:  PREL PGOV EAID ECON ENRG KISL CN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3600
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHAN #0100/01 0311318
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311318Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4241
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0797
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0349
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0057
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000100 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR TSCHETTER
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER D'ELIA
NAIROBI FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ECON ENRG KISL CN
SUBJECT: COMOROS EAGER FOR BILATERAL TALKS WITH U.S.

Ref: A) ANTANANARIVO 0077

B) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1207
C) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1009
D) 06 STATE 159380
F) 06 ANTANANARIVO 992

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000100

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR TSCHETTER
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER D'ELIA
NAIROBI FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ECON ENRG KISL CN
SUBJECT: COMOROS EAGER FOR BILATERAL TALKS WITH U.S.

Ref: A) ANTANANARIVO 0077

B) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1207
C) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1009
D) 06 STATE 159380
F) 06 ANTANANARIVO 992


1. SUMMARY. During meetings January 22-23 in the Union of the
Comoros, PolEcon Chief and visiting Desk Officer laid the ground
work for the first meeting of the U.S.-Comoros Joint Committee for
Bilateral Cooperation. The Comoran officials expressed interest in
discussing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA),the
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) as well as cooperation in others
fields, including security. Unless a Washington-based Delegation
Head were to become available, Ambassador McGee would lead the first
meeting to the Comoros in February or March, potentially to be
followed by a second 2007 meeting in the U.S., probably on the
margins of the UNGA. END SUMMARY.


2. In meetings with Union of the Comoros Vice President Idi's
Secretary General and Ministry of External Affairs Secretary General

SIPDIS
(both Deputy equivalents),PolEcon Chief and visiting DeskOff
discussed possible topics for bilateral discussions between the
Government of the Union of the Comoros (GOC) and the United States.
SG Inzouddine suggested discussing qualification for AGOA and asked
for more information to pursue Comoros access to U.S. markets under
the program. Repeating a request President Sambi made to the
Ambassador in an earlier meeting, GOC officials asked about
eligibility for a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.
Acknowledging Comoros might be a long road away from meeting the
requirements, officials asked only that the United States explain
where to begin and what steps to take. Comoran Charge d' Affaires
to New York Mahmoud Aboud, in Moroni for consultations, tentatively
scheduled with DeskOff to visit Washington in the near future for
initial discussion with MCC officials about the program. Overall,
the GOC sought themes of U.S. friendship and opportunity for the
agenda for bilateral talks later this year.



3. On format, the GOC officials accepted in principle that
Ambassador McGee could lead the delegation to inaugurate the
"U.S.-Comoros Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation" in the near
future, to be followed by higher-level talks, perhaps on the
sidelines of meetings in Washington or New York. Vice President
Idi, who also holds several key Ministerial portfolios, would open
the talks with the Ambassador. A half-day of working-level meetings
on AGOA, MCC, possible education and health cooperation, and talks
on ongoing security cooperation would round out the agenda.


4. While grateful for the frequent contact with U.S. Embassy
Antananarivo, SG Inzouddine urged the United States to establish a
permanent presence in Moroni. PolEcon Chief and DeskOff shared that
a recommendation for an official American presence in Comoros was
under consideration, but no decision has been made. The SG noted
that a U.S. diplomatic presence would provide "balance" in Comoros;
restating the point that all tangible signs of U.S. friendship
"reassured" the Comoran people.


5. Finally, both SGs emphasized the need for "economic partners" for
development in Comoros. Vice President Idi reportedly wants to
encourage geothermal energy projects around the Karthala volcano to
meet energy needs - if feasible. Given ExxonMobil's exploration in
the Mozambique Channel off Madagascar's coast, GOC officials are
also hopeful that Comoros may have petroleum reserves. The GOC
would welcome American private sector participation in part of the
bilateral talks, if not in energy, then in other promising sectors
in Comoros like tourism, agribusiness or light manufacturing (if
AGOA becomes a reality).


6. Both officials commended the United States for the distance
education program just underway in Comoros to train teachers via
radio broadcasts. In a separate meeting, the Union Minister of
Education affirmed that material and human resources would be
devoted to completing the distance education materials. Our
interlocutors noted the Peace Corps did a great deal to improve
education until the program closed in the mid-1990s. As Post hears
regularly, GOC officials made a plea for reopening the Peace Corps
program - emphasizing how the Program reassured the Comoran
population about American friendship. Secretary General Mouigni
recalled a certain "famous" Volunteer, Bob White, who used to sing
in the Comoran language on a radio program.


7. COMMENT: Surprisingly, an explicit request for financial
assistance was not raised in these meetings, although this would
obviously be welcome given the budget difficulties in the Comoros.
Our interlocutors enthusiastically supported the inauguration of
U.S. - Comoros bilateral talks as a sign of friendship and welcomed
this series of brainstorming sessions to consider possible

ANTANANARI 00000100 002 OF 002


opportunities. With the Department's consent, Post will continue to
flesh out a program for one-day U.S. - Comoros bilateral talks to
realize Assistant Secretary Frazer's proposal to President Sambi in
September 2006. END COMMENT.

MCGEE