SIERRA LEONE DELEGATION TO DAKAR OIC SUMMIT

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000106 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO IO/UNP ANNELIESE REINEMEHER AND REBECCA GOLDENBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OIC AORC SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE DELEGATION TO DAKAR OIC SUMMIT REF: STATE 23596 ¶1. On March 10, DCM spoke with Sierra Leone Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Umaru Wurie to inquire about the Sierra Leone delegation to the OIC Summit and note the request for a meeting with Special Envoy Cumber. Ambassador Wurie stated that Sierra Leone would be very interested in such a meeting and noted he would provide contact information. DCM provided DG Wurie the contact information for Ambassador Ross and SE Cumber to facilitate the meeting. ¶2. The Sierra Leone delegation to the OIC summit will likely be as follows: President Ernest Bai Koroma Minister of Presidential Affairs Alpha Kanu Minister of Foreign Affairs Zainab Bangura SL Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Amadu Tejan-Sier SL Ambassador to the Gambia and Senegal Presidential Protocol Assistant, Mr. Byron Gilpin ¶3. Ambassador Wurie noted that the OIC had been helpful to Sierra Leone, and offered the example of their assistance in setting up a trust fund for reconstruction, working with the Ministry of Development. The OIC also fielded a small observer delegation to Sierra Leone's national elections in ¶2007. ¶4. Post will supply POC information when received. PERRY