Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MONROVIA559
2007-05-15 08:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: SPAIN TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN HEALTH AND

Tags:  PREL EAID SP LI 
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VZCZCXRO5226
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0559 1350818
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150818Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8551
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0198
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000559 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS AND EUR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID SP LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: SPAIN TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN HEALTH AND
FISHERIES SECTORS

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000559

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS AND EUR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID SP LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: SPAIN TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN HEALTH AND
FISHERIES SECTORS


1. (U) Charge d'Affaires and Poloff (notetaker) met May 14
with Cristina Diaz Fernandez-Gil, Assistant Director for
Cooperation with Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia at the Spanish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fernandez-Gil was accompanied by
Spain's Honorary Consul in Liberia Manuel Cuenca, Carolina
Diz Otero of the Galicia Region's Office for Foreign
Cooperation, and Luis Padilla Macabeo of the Canary Islands'
Office for African Relations. Fernandez-Gil told Charge that
the delegation came to Liberia in response to President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf's appeal for assistance during her March 2007
visit to Madrid. She said the delegation would identify two
projects that Spain could carry out in Liberia, one in the
health sector and one in fisheries. Fernandez-Gil said the
delegation would meet with Minister of Gender Varbah Gayflor
to explore ways of assisting with gender issues, particularly
support for women entrepreneurs and promoting legislation to
protect women.


2. (SBU) Fernandez-Gil noted that the local governments of
the regions of Galicia and the Canary Islands were invited to
explore carrying out projects in Liberia because the Spanish
Government cannot provide bilateral assistance since Liberia
is not included in Spain's Africa plan. According to
Fernandez-Gil, the Liberian Government requested
infrastructure support for the port of Monrovia.
Fernandez-Gil said Spain provides training, but does not
provide infrastructure assistance. Charge said poor
management and corruption are serious problems at the port
and suggested that the delegation meet with the port's
Liberia Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program
(GEMAP) advisor. Charge also suggested that the Spanish
consider providing help in building a fish market with cold
storage since many women in Liberia work as fish mongers, and
this could assist in two ways by promoting fisheries
development and by assisting women entrepreneurs with better
retail facilities.


3. (SBU) In response to Fernandez-Gil's query about the state
of the Liberian health sector, Charge noted that many NGOs
that focused on emergency health care in rural areas are
pulling out as Liberia evolves from an emergency phase to a
focus on development. He said the Ministry of Health is not
yet equipped to adequately provide health services to the
people. Charge added that malaria is the major health
problem in the country and that the USG would be increasing
engagement in this area as Liberia has been selected as a
target country for the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI).
He added that reliable health data has not been available,
but that a demographic health survey is currently underway.


4. (U) Fernandez-Gil announced that as part of Spain's
growing engagement in West Africa, a diplomat would be
assigned to Sierra Leone in August who would also have
responsibility for covering Liberia. This diplomat will have
a desk in the European Commission office in Monrovia. She
also stated that Spain has created a 10 million Euro fund
with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to
promote women's empowerment in Africa.
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