CAMEROON SEEKS USG SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATE TO WORLD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 YAOUNDE 000689 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETRD CM SUBJECT: CAMEROON SEEKS USG SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATE TO WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO) ¶1. (U) In a May 22 diplomatic note, the Government of Cameroon (GRC) announced the candidacy of Mr. Antoine Marie Manga Massina for the post of Director of Tariff and Trade Affairs at the Secretariat of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and requested USG support for his candidacy. This message conveys full text versions of the diplomatic note (para 2),the candidate's CV (para 3),and the candidate's action plan (para 4). ¶2. (U) Begin Text of Diplomatic Note: The Ministry of External Relations of the Republic of Cameroon presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Yaounde; and, Has the honour to inform the latter that the Government of the Republic of Cameroon has decided to present the candidature of Mr. Antoine Marie Manga Massina for the post of Director of Tariff and Trade Affairs at the Secretariat of the World Customs Organization (WCO). The election for this position is to be held on 30 June 2007 in Brussels at the 109th/110th Sessions of the WCO's Council. As current Director General of Cameroon Customs, Mr. Antoine Marie Manga Massina has notably performed the duties of Special Assistant at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon and Deputy Director for Valuation at the World Customs Organization. Please, see attached brochure presenting the candidate and outlining his plan of action. Furthermore, Cameroon which is currently a member of the General Policy Commission of the WCO, presents this candidate whose plan of action is to contribute to the strengthening of WCO for a sound global economic development. The Ministry of External Relations would be very grateful if the Embassy of the United States of America could obtain the support of his Government for the election of this candidate. The Ministry of External Relations would like to thank, in advance, the Embassy of the United States of America for the onward transmission of this request to the United States Government; and would like to avail itself of this opportunity to renew the assurances of its highest consideration./- Yaounde End Text of Diplomatic Note ¶3. (U) Begin Text of Cirriculum Vitae: My curriculum vitae Name: Antoine Marie Manga Massina Date and place of birth: 3 may 1952 in Yaound (Cameroon) �0A;Marital Status: Married with seven dependent children. EDUCATION 1977: B.Sc. in Economics, University of Yaound 1979: Diploma from the National School of Administration and Magistracy (Cameroon),Customs Section PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1979-1981: Customs Inspector at the Main Customs Office at the Douala Port 1981-1985: - Head of the Customs House at the Yaound Airport - Lecturer at the National School of Administration and Magistracy (Customs Section) August 1985- September 1990: Sub-Director of Legislation and Tariffs at the Cameroon National Customs Department. Sept 1990- December 1991: First Secretary in charge of commercial and customs affairs at the Embassy of Cameroon in the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Community. Responsibilities: Delegate of Cameroon in all WCO meetings, including the HS Committee, the Permanent Technical Committee, the Valuation Committee. January 1992- July 1999: Deputy Director of Valuation at WCO responsible for the promotion and management of the WCO Valuation Agreement, the management and implementation of the Technical Assistance Programme, the monitoring of contributions to the WCO deliberations on origin and tariff classification and technical and administrative supervision of administrators. YAOUNDE 00000689 002 OF 003 Sept 1999 - February 2000: Permanent Secretary of the Cameroon Customs Reform and Modernization Committee. February 2000 - May 2000: Technical Adviser to the Minister of the Economy and Finance. May 2000 - April 2002: National Director of Cameroon,s Customs Department. April 2002 - October 2003: Inspector at the General Inspectorate of the Customs Services of Cameroon. (Ministry of Economy and Finance) October 2003 - June 2005: Special Assistant at the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Economic and Financial Affairs Division; In this capacity, Technical Adviser of the President of the Republic, notably on economic, fiscal, customs and world trade issues. 2005 to date: Director-General of Customs Responsible notably for the implementation of the Customs Reform and Modernization Strategic Plan, the developing of cooperation with other customs departments and international organizations. LANGUAGES SPOKEN, WRITTEN AND READ: French, English and Spanish End text of Curriculum Vitae ¶4. (U) Begin text of Action Plan: If I am elected as Director of Tariff and Trade Affairs, I shall apply myself to the task of reinforcing this important WCO responsibility. Many WCO Members are facing difficulties to meet the aforementioned challenges due to structural deficiencies. It will therefore be necessary for the WCO to make up for these insufficiencies by strengthening capacities within the framework of the Columbus Programme. In this respect, the Directorate of Tariff and Trade Affairs takes on a strategic importance, especially as its areas of competence are at the centre of multilateral trade negotiations. This Department would have to contribute to negotiations on trade facilitation and help members to participate in these negotiations. The following actions should be given importance: Harmonized System 1.1 Consolidate the Harmonized System as an instrument for the uniform interpretation and application of rules of classification in the customs tariffs, as well as an instrument for the development of world trade statistics. 1.2 Continue the examination of the monitoring mechanisms for the implementation of decisions of the HS Committee; most member States do not have the required capacity for tariff classification. 1.3 Pursue the setting up and functioning of an anticipated system of tariff decisions. 1.4 Promote the application of the 2007 version of the HS. 1.5 Ensure the organization of meetings of the HS Committee and Sub-committee. Customs Value 2.1 Continue the implementation of the WCO Valuation Agreement. This agreement requires additional effort to explain it to its Members. 2.2 Continue to promote and reinforce the uniform interpretation and implementation of the Agreement, by organizing meetings of the Valuation Technical Committee. 2.3 Update WCO publications. 2.4 Promote a framework for dialogue and consultation with international organizations and the private sector to guarantee overall coherence in the application of rules of evaluation. Rules of origin 3.1 Continue to support the formulation and finalisation of non-preferential rules of origin within the framework of WCO and prepare their application. Continue to promote and reinforce the uniform interpretation and implementation of the Agreement, by organizing meetings of the Origin Technical Committee. 3.2 Contribute to the development of preferential rules of origin within the framework of the EU/ACP Economic YAOUNDE 00000689 003 OF 003 Partnership Agreements which will mark a decisive phase in the development of customs services in ACP countries. 3.3 Provide explanations to WCO applicant Members and international organizations, explanations and advice relating to preferential and non-preferential rules of origin. Technical assistance 4.1 Assist applicant Members to implement the 2007 version of the HS. 4.2 Continue to organize seminars, training and expert missions to reinforce the mastery of the Valuation Agreement. 4.3 Organize special programmes on important themes such as risk analysis, modern techniques of post audit controls to ensure better customs valuation control. 4.4 Continue to carry out explanatory campaigns on preferential and non-preferential rules of origin and help applicant customs unions and member countries to draw up their rules of origin like the one that will result from the EU/ACP Economic Partnership Agreements. 4.5 Complement the action of customs administrations concerned by the Economic Partnerships Agreements by defining their role and setting up new customs organizational and management procedures. End text of Action Plan MARQUARDT