Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COTONOU349
2008-06-23 14:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:  

YAYI WRITES TWICE FOR FOOD AID FUNDS

Tags:  OPDC PREL PGOV BN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCO #0349/01 1751405
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231405Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0381
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS COTONOU 000349 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/ES-O AND S/ES-CR AND AF/W FOR DBANKS

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PGOV BN
SUBJECT: YAYI WRITES TWICE FOR FOOD AID FUNDS

REF: Dougherty/Brown e-mail dated 6/17/2008.
UNCLAS COTONOU 000349

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/ES-O AND S/ES-CR AND AF/W FOR DBANKS

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PGOV BN
SUBJECT: YAYI WRITES TWICE FOR FOOD AID FUNDS

REF: Dougherty/Brown e-mail dated 6/17/2008.

1.(SBU) Recently, President Yayi sent two letters to the Embassy for
President Bush requesting assistance in response to rising food
prices. In one dated June 7, 2008, he requested the donation of
food products including corn, rice, and beans, and in another dated
June 12, 2008, asked for short-term funding to purchase seeds,
fertilizer, and pesticide. As instructed (ref e-mail),the
Ambassador met with President Yayi and Ambassador Diallo, Special
Advisor for Diplomatic Affairs, on June 19 and reiterated the
necessity - given the number of his letters - for future
communications of this nature to be made directly with the Embassy.
President Yayi said that he would do so.

2.(U) Both original letters will be sent by pouch to S/ES-CR. The
Embassy's informal translation of both letters follows:

3.(U) Letter dated June 7, 2008:

Begin informal translation of letter:

Dear Mr. President and Dear Friend:








Shortly after the Summit organized by the FAO in Rome on world food
security where I had hoped to discuss with you bilateral
co-operation and the means of ending the new food crisis whose
consequences are particularly disastrous in Africa, I would like to
express my satisfaction with the decisions made.

Like the other countries in the sub region, my country, Benin is
confronted with the explosion of food prices. The measures that my
Government took by anticipation helped curb the crisis just a
little. But as it is persisting, my means have decreased.

Under these circumstances, I can only turn to friendly countries
such as the United States of America for solidarity towards my
People to avoid a food catastrophe by providing us with donations of
food products such as corn, rice and bean or financial assistance
for their acquisition.

Thank you in advance for the consideration that will be given to my
request. Please accept, Mr. President and Dear Friend, the
expression of my highest consideration.

Yours warmly,

/Signed/
Dr. Boni Yayi

End informal translation

4.(U) Letter dated June 12, 2008:

(Begin Translation)

Dear President:

The food crisis is a critical concern to my country, Benin. Indeed,
the crisis is hitting all countries in the world, but my country is
among the countries that are most affected by the impact of the
crisis due to the vulnerability of their economies. The progress
achieved by my country through important sacrifices in making
reforms and fighting poverty may well be jeopardized by this
exogenous shock that is exacerbated by the increase in the prices of
energy products of which Benin is a net importer.

So we must act. Fast. In order to find the most efficient path.

This is the reason why I call upon you to help my country maximize
its chances to rapidly end the food crisis by boosting our
agricultural productivity rather than by providing us with food aid.
The planting season will start in a few weeks. We need your
financial assistance urgently to buy agricultural inputs like
improved seeds, pesticide, and fertilizers; the success of the
campaign is contingent upon those.

Benin plans in the mid and long term to increase the output of
products that are subject to speculation, namely corn (2,000,000
tons),cassava (3,000,000 tons) rice (600,000 tons),millet, sorghum
and fonio (3,000,000 tons).

To this end, I kindly request for my country financial support in
the form of your country's assistance to buy in a very short term
some inputs (seeds and fertilizers) and pesticide to rapidly
distribute to private producers.

In the hope that you will agree quickly to my request, I give you,
Mr. President, my very highest consideration.

Yours sincerely


/Signed/
Dr Boni YAYI

President of the Republic of Benin

(End translation of letter)

BROWN