Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANTANANARIVO226
2007-03-08 05:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:  

AGOA Eligibility Recommendation For Comoros

Tags:  ETRD AGOA ECON CN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAN #0226/01 0670529
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080529Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4441
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0832
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000226 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV
DEPT FOR AF/EPS
DEPT PASS USTR FLIZER AND PCOLEMAN
PARIS FOR D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD AGOA ECON CN
SUBJECT: AGOA Eligibility Recommendation For Comoros

REF: A) STATE 22438

B) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1176

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000226

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV
DEPT FOR AF/EPS
DEPT PASS USTR FLIZER AND PCOLEMAN
PARIS FOR D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD AGOA ECON CN
SUBJECT: AGOA Eligibility Recommendation For Comoros

REF: A) STATE 22438

B) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1176


1. This is an Action Request for the Department - see Paragraph 4.


2. SUMMARY: Democratically-elected President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi
has made significant improvements in governance in the Union of the
Comoros since taking office in May 2006, despite inadequate
resources. His government has an ambitious plan to attract
investment in tourism and agriculture that is founded on free-market
principles. President Sambi sought the prosecution of corrupt
officials and granted amnesty to unfairly sentenced persons to
improve the rule of law in Comoros. As acknowledged in the Human
Rights Report and Worst Forms of Child Labor Report, conditions in
Comoros are comparable to neighboring AGOA-eligible countries and
are improving. Above all, Comoros is a staunch American ally in the
war on terrorism, participating fully in the Rewards for Justice
Program in the hunt for Comoran-born terrorist suspect Harun Fazul.
In light of nascent stability and progress in Comoros under Sambi's
leadership, Post recommends the United States grant AGOA Eligibility
in time to mark President Sambi's first year in office on May 28,

2007. END SUMMARY.


3. Using the Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) Scorecards
for "Ruling Justly," "Investing in People," and "Economic Freedom,"
Comoros has passing marks in five of 16 indicators. This score puts
Comoros ahead of nine AGOA-eligible countries. While failing across
the board to invest in people, Comoros scores passing marks in three
of six in economic freedom and two of six in ruling justly. MCC and
AGOA criteria differ somewhat, but by this measure Comoros warrants
at least careful consideration.


4. ACTION REQUESTED: Post requests the Department initiate the
inter-agency process for Comoros to obtain AGOA-eligibility in light
of the country's progress in fully embracing AGOA criteria and
making steady progress in their implementation. Comoros is emerging
from three decades of chaos and becoming a stable and responsible
African nation more like the 38 AGOA-eligible countries and less
like the dozen ineligible "pariah" states. Paragraphs 5-11 describe

Comoros' current performance against AGOA indicators. END ACTION
REQUEST.

MARKET ECONOMY
--------------


5. President Sambi is an entrepreneur, having founded businesses in
bottled water, mattresses, and perfume. In the past, vanilla and
ylang-ylang (a perfume essence) were exported in significant
quantities from Comoros. At present, most formal sector workers are
employed by the Union or Island Governments. There is a modest
tourism sector, and tiny manufacturing base. The majority of
Comorans live on subsistence farming and fishing, as well as
remittances from family abroad primarily in Marseilles, Mayotte, and
Madagascar.

RULE OF LAW, POLITICAL PLURALISM, RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS
-------------- --------------


6. Fourteen candidates freely contested the April 2006 presidential
primary, and three candidates then ran for president in the May
national election. International observers agreed the poll was fair
and transparent, with then opposition figure Sambi winning by a wide
margin. Taking office in May in the first peaceful and democratic
transfer of power in Comoran history, Sambi vowed to install an
effective rule of law. Corrupt officials have been prosecuted.
Many prisoners convicted of minor crimes who did not receive
adequate due process were granted amnesty.

ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS TO U.S. TRADE AND INVESTMENT
-------------- --------------


7. Although remote and underdeveloped, Comoros welcomes U.S. trade
and investment. Western Union entered the market in 2006 to access
the substantial client base for remittances from abroad - its
operations to date function well. Before the collapse in vanilla
prices, American importers purchased the commodity in Comoros.
Several Americans live in Comoros working for humanitarian NGOs in
health and education - their presence is welcomed by the community.

There are no known specific barriers to U.S. trade and investment.

ECONOMIC POLICIES TO REDUCE POVERTY
--------------


8. The Union of the Comoros has performed adequately under its
poverty reduction strategy as indicated by the World Bank. An
Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP) with a focus on
fostering economic growth, led by the private sector, and improving
the provision of public services in the social sectors was presented
to the Board of Directors of the World Bank in May 2006. The I-PRSP
concentrates around three key objectives: (i) sustained economic
growth; (ii) improved human capital development; and (iii) improved
governance and political stability. The World Bank states in its
Country Report for the Union of the Comoros that: "Achieving the
poverty reduction strategy objectives will require unwavering
efforts to improve public financial management as well as continuous
inter-island cooperation. It will require higher international
financial aid in the form of immediate support to finance pressing
social services, public investment, and technical assistance needs;
it will also require comprehensive debt relief". Having concluded
an Article IV consultation with the IMF in July 2006, the government
is also seeking to formulate a full-scale poverty reduction strategy
paper (PRSP). In general, it appears that most of the donors are
eager to reward the country's political transition and agreement on
an IMF-supported Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) is
possible in 2007, as long as the economic environment is reasonably
encouraging and the government seeks to push ahead with reforms. A
PRGF would increase the inflow of donor funds in 2008.

A SYSTEM TO COMBAT CORRUPTION
--------------


9. President Sambi has made his fight against graft public, stating
repeatedly that corrupt officials will be investigated and
prosecuted. Given limited expertise in his government, and a poorly
functioning judicial system, progress has been slow and corruption
is still reported, particularly in connection with state-owned
enterprises and customs. In a gesture towards enhanced
transparency, Sambi made public his own salary, a first for any
Comoran head of state.

PROTECTION OF WORKER RIGHTS
--------------


10. As noted in the Human Rights Report and Worst Forms of Child
Labor Report, Comoran law meets minimum standards for the protection
of worker rights. Organized teachers, dockworkers, and taxi-drivers
recently availed themselves of their right to strike and demonstrate
to protest nonpayment of salaries or other grievances. Government
enforcement is weak, but several UN agencies present in Comoros
reinforce the protection of worker rights. In reality, there are
virtually no formal sector jobs in Comoros after years of
instability and low investment interest.


11. Comoros did not engage in activities that undermine U.S.
national security or foreign policy interests, did not engage in
gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, and did
not provide support for acts of international terrorism. In fact,
Comoros has been an active participant in the Rewards for Justice
Program, cooperating fully in the hunt for Comoran-born terrorism
suspect Harun Fazul. Former President Azali expelled, at United
States request, the Islamic charity al-Haramain, which is suspected
of having ties to extremist groups.

MCGEE