ZIMBABWE: DEMARCHE TO NIGERIA REGARDING UNSC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001330 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2018 TAGS: PREL UNSC NI ZI SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: DEMARCHE TO NIGERIA REGARDING UNSC RESOLUTION REF: SILSKI-SANDERS 7/10 E-MAIL Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) Following receipt of ref e-mail, Polcouns spoke with Ambassador Daniel Hart, Senior Special Advisor to Foreign Minister Maduekwe, and briefed him on the issue and our desire to enlist Nigerian co-sponsorship of the draft UNSC resolution on Zimbabwe. He told Hart that Ambassador Sanders was trying to speak to the Minister directly in order to underline the importance with which the USG views this issue. Hart said he would raise the issue with the Minister, with whom he would be meeting within the hour. At Hart's request, Polcouns e-mailed him a non-paper conveying the points included in the demarche. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador will attempt to speak with Minister Maduekwe (who has just returned from the G-8 meeting) about this today. She also plans to raise it with President Yar'Adua, with whom she is seeking an appointment over the weekend. SANDERS