UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000127

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EIND ETRD AGR IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE DEMARCHED ON SEC GENERAL OF INT'L
RUBBER STUDY GROUP

REF: SECSTATE 10729


1. (SBU) Econoff demarched Vincent Niagne Agnimel,
Secretary General of the Ivoirian Rubber Association APROMAC

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and delivered talking points related to U.S. concerns about
the tenure of Dr. Smits as International Rubber Study Group
Secretary General. APROMAC is the designated Ivoirian

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delegate to the IRSG, because the Ivoirian government has
failed to pay its contributions.


2. (SBU) Agnimel told Econoff that ahead of a meeting of
the IRSG in March in London, he had heard directly from the
U.S. IRSG representative on the issue of Dr. Smit's
retention. While Agnimel will not attend the London meeting,
he has spoken with the Ivoirian diplomatic delegation in the
UK, which will represent APROMAC, and delivered instructions.
Agnimel pointedly did not/not indicate to Econoff the nature
of the instructions on how Cote d'Ivoire will vote.
NESBITT