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)
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.

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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

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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