Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANTANANARIVO771
2008-11-18 14:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
AU SUMMIT PLANNING: DATES SET, STILL SHORT ON
how-toVZCZCXRO3782 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHAN #0771 3231459 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 181459Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1787 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000771
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/E - MBEYZEROV
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AU MA KSUM
SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT PLANNING: DATES SET, STILL SHORT ON
DETAILS
REF: A. 08 ANTANANARIVO 585
B. 08 ANTANANARIVO 701
C. 08 ANTANANARIVO 745
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000771
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/E - MBEYZEROV
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AU MA KSUM
SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT PLANNING: DATES SET, STILL SHORT ON
DETAILS
REF: A. 08 ANTANANARIVO 585
B. 08 ANTANANARIVO 701
C. 08 ANTANANARIVO 745
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: With seven months left before the African
Union's annual summit descends upon Madagascar, Prime
Minister Charles Rabemananjara finally convened the
Antananarivo diplomatic corps to announce the dates (June 21
to July 3, 2009, with the heads of state here July 1-2 -- a
change from previous information),solicit assistance, and
make clear his high expectations for the international
community's participation. The hastily arranged presentation
was short on details, however, and left the audience with
more questions than answers. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The Assembly session (with heads of state) will
occur July 1-2, with the entire event spread from June 21 to
July 3, 2009. Foreign Minister Ranjeva explained privately
to the ambassasor that the change from previously announced
dates (July 31 - August 1) was due to their realization that
several member states' national days would have precluded the
attendence of several heads of state. The revised dates
allow all AU heads of state to participate, he said. Post
has requested hotel space in anticipation of USG
participation, to be determined.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the diplomatic corps was most
interested in at last hearing concrete dates, the GOM hosts
had clearly hoped this would be an occasion for the donor
community to step forward with enthusiastic pledges of
support. Aside from the ambassador to Morocco, however, the
room fell into an awkward silence that was eased only when
the Prime Minister forced the Ministers of Public Works,
Finance, and Youth to discuss their ministries' preparations.
They reported on widely-known construction projects, all
either finished or slated to be finished by May 2009, or on
ambitious but ambiguous plans to "mobilize the population" in
support of the summit. Estimates of expected attendance
topped out at 4,000, but no one addressed the obvious
shortage of hotel rooms or other logistics or security
concerns. Behind the scenes, we are encouraging the GOM to
communicate more openly and frequently with their "partners",
as well as to coordinate more effectively with all of those
from whom they are expecting or requesting various forms of
support. END COMMENT.
MARQUARDT
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/E - MBEYZEROV
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AU MA KSUM
SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT PLANNING: DATES SET, STILL SHORT ON
DETAILS
REF: A. 08 ANTANANARIVO 585
B. 08 ANTANANARIVO 701
C. 08 ANTANANARIVO 745
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: With seven months left before the African
Union's annual summit descends upon Madagascar, Prime
Minister Charles Rabemananjara finally convened the
Antananarivo diplomatic corps to announce the dates (June 21
to July 3, 2009, with the heads of state here July 1-2 -- a
change from previous information),solicit assistance, and
make clear his high expectations for the international
community's participation. The hastily arranged presentation
was short on details, however, and left the audience with
more questions than answers. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The Assembly session (with heads of state) will
occur July 1-2, with the entire event spread from June 21 to
July 3, 2009. Foreign Minister Ranjeva explained privately
to the ambassasor that the change from previously announced
dates (July 31 - August 1) was due to their realization that
several member states' national days would have precluded the
attendence of several heads of state. The revised dates
allow all AU heads of state to participate, he said. Post
has requested hotel space in anticipation of USG
participation, to be determined.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the diplomatic corps was most
interested in at last hearing concrete dates, the GOM hosts
had clearly hoped this would be an occasion for the donor
community to step forward with enthusiastic pledges of
support. Aside from the ambassador to Morocco, however, the
room fell into an awkward silence that was eased only when
the Prime Minister forced the Ministers of Public Works,
Finance, and Youth to discuss their ministries' preparations.
They reported on widely-known construction projects, all
either finished or slated to be finished by May 2009, or on
ambitious but ambiguous plans to "mobilize the population" in
support of the summit. Estimates of expected attendance
topped out at 4,000, but no one addressed the obvious
shortage of hotel rooms or other logistics or security
concerns. Behind the scenes, we are encouraging the GOM to
communicate more openly and frequently with their "partners",
as well as to coordinate more effectively with all of those
from whom they are expecting or requesting various forms of
support. END COMMENT.
MARQUARDT