DEMARCHE: PREPARATIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER BAMAKO

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 076884 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2017 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM UNGA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: PREPARATIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER BAMAKO COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES MINISTERIAL Classified By: U/S Dobriansky under E.O. 12958, 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (C) This year's Community of Democracies (CD) Ministerial is scheduled for November 2007 in Bamako, Mali. As Chair of the CD for the last two years, Mali has been charged with setting the agenda, leading the Convening Group to determine priorities and the invitation list, and carrying out the logistics for the Ministerial. Mali has accomplished a great deal thus far, despite low capacity and funding issues. That said, some CD NGO partners have raised concerns regarding Mali's preparations for the fast-approaching Ministerial. We intend to offer advice and support to the Malians, to ensure they are prepared. End Summary. OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶3. (U) Post is instructed to pursue the following objectives: -- Praise Mali for its strong leadership of the Convening Group as it considers the list of potential participants and observers to the November Ministerial. -- Query the Foreign Ministry on its basic Ministerial preparations and whether they have a plan to deal with the budget, funding, and logistics of the Ministerial. What has been done thus far, and what is left to do? (Note: The possibility of higher level USG attendance could serve as an excuse for post to press Mali. End Note.) -- Query Mali on their plans and efforts to invite civil society to participate in the Bamako Ministerial Conference. -- Impress upon Mali the urgency of finalizing plans and implementing procedures in the six months prior to the Ministerial. -- Urge Mali to reach out to other CG countries, including countries like Chile, which has offered support and advice from their past experience hosting the 2005 Santiago Ministerial, for support in quickly devising and implementing preparations. REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶4. (U) Post should report results of efforts by cable to G - Joaquin Ferrao, DRL/MLGA - Laura Jordan, and IO/RHS - Rachel Leatham before June 11. BACKGROUND -------------- ¶5. (C/NF) At their request, G Staff Joaquin Ferrao met with NDI Ivan Doherty and a current advisor (formerly with NDI) to Ambassador Diop funded by USAID. The advisor (PROTECT) wanted to let us know of her concerns over the lack of progress in making preparations for the CD Ministerial. Although Ambassador Diop has made extensive efforts to finalize logistical and substantive issues related to the Ministerial, the advisor tells us that the Malian Foreign Ministry has done little on the ground in the way of basic planning. She is concerned about (1) the lack of a budget plan; (2) lack of identified funding sources; and (3) lack of logistical planning. The Malians have not formulated a plan to address these key areas, even though the Malian embassy has provided various suggestions. The embassy has also passed on information about the way the Chileans handled the 2005 Ministerial. Doherty stressed how the CD is bigger than Mali, and urged us to interact with Mali on this issue. RICE