Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MADRID883
2008-08-08 15:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN PREPARES FOR SUMMIT WITH SUBSAHARAN AFRICA
how-toVZCZCXRO6588 RR RUEHLA RUEHPA DE RUEHMD #0883 2211513 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 081513Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5229 INFO RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 0010 RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0121 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0033 RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0050 RUEHJL/AMEMBASSY BANJUL 0054 RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 0064 RUEHCO/AMEMBASSY COTONOU 0008 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0153 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 0014 RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 0043 RUEHPC/AMEMBASSY LOME 0166 RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 0160 RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 0140 RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 0104 RUEHPA/AMEMBASSY PRAIA RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 3542
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000883
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SHIRLEY LISENBY (AF/W)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2018
TAGS: PREL SP PU
SUBJECT: SPAIN PREPARES FOR SUMMIT WITH SUBSAHARAN AFRICA
REF: MADRID 685
Classified By: ADCM Dan Keller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000883
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SHIRLEY LISENBY (AF/W)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2018
TAGS: PREL SP PU
SUBJECT: SPAIN PREPARES FOR SUMMIT WITH SUBSAHARAN AFRICA
REF: MADRID 685
Classified By: ADCM Dan Keller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Angel
Lossada visited Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and
Guinea-Conakry July 22nd through the 25th to establish a
frame of reference for President Zapatero's proposed
Spain/West Africa summit. Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and
Guinea-Conakry all support the planned summit and Senegalese
President Abdoulaye Wade is assisting with meeting
coordination. As of August 8, no date or location has been
decided. Proposed participants include Benin, Burkina Faso,
Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau,
Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal,
Sierra Leon, and Togo. The agenda will include regional
issues that transcend bilateral relations, Lossada said in an
August 4 El Pais report, such as infrastructure, migration
flows, agriculture, institutional strengthening and regional
integration.
2. (SBU) Secretary Lossada's discussions with Senegalese and
Gambian authorities during the visit focused on security
cooperation and the GOS' assistance with equipment and
training for local authorities in the prevention of illegal
immigration. On July 24, Lossada met with PM Martino Dafa
Kabi and Minister of the Interior Certorio Biote in
Guinea-Bissau. The GOGB requested assistance in their fight
against trafficking in persons and narcotics trafficking.
According to press reports, the GOGB also requested funds for
the construction of a road-network for the southern part of
the country. The GOS expressed a commitment to assist in the
road construction, having already expended 1 million Euros in
feasibility studies. The GOS will also give 500,000 Euros to
assist in the financing of the GOGB November 16 parliamentary
elections. Lossada met with General Juan Esteban Verastegui,
Chief of the EU mission in Guinea-Bissau, as well.
Verastegui expressed concern that local government
authorities do not have the capability to control the country
and requested that Spain send 3-4 helicopters to the mission
to assist in shore surveillance. Lossada indicated that the
GOS would assess the request.
3. (C) In a subsequent conversation with Spanish Africa Desk
Officer Carmen Fernandez Torres on August 8, Spanish
financial assistance for Guinea-Conakry's democratic
development (through the UNDP) was also confirmed. Fernandez
explained that an important focus of the Lossada trip and the
objective of subsequent aid and development in the region
will be "good governance." She also admitted that the MFA is
only now engaging with Moncloa on summit planning, calling
the summit a "Zapatero initiative." Fernandez anticipates
that it will occur before the end of the year.
Aguirre
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SHIRLEY LISENBY (AF/W)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2018
TAGS: PREL SP PU
SUBJECT: SPAIN PREPARES FOR SUMMIT WITH SUBSAHARAN AFRICA
REF: MADRID 685
Classified By: ADCM Dan Keller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Angel
Lossada visited Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and
Guinea-Conakry July 22nd through the 25th to establish a
frame of reference for President Zapatero's proposed
Spain/West Africa summit. Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and
Guinea-Conakry all support the planned summit and Senegalese
President Abdoulaye Wade is assisting with meeting
coordination. As of August 8, no date or location has been
decided. Proposed participants include Benin, Burkina Faso,
Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau,
Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal,
Sierra Leon, and Togo. The agenda will include regional
issues that transcend bilateral relations, Lossada said in an
August 4 El Pais report, such as infrastructure, migration
flows, agriculture, institutional strengthening and regional
integration.
2. (SBU) Secretary Lossada's discussions with Senegalese and
Gambian authorities during the visit focused on security
cooperation and the GOS' assistance with equipment and
training for local authorities in the prevention of illegal
immigration. On July 24, Lossada met with PM Martino Dafa
Kabi and Minister of the Interior Certorio Biote in
Guinea-Bissau. The GOGB requested assistance in their fight
against trafficking in persons and narcotics trafficking.
According to press reports, the GOGB also requested funds for
the construction of a road-network for the southern part of
the country. The GOS expressed a commitment to assist in the
road construction, having already expended 1 million Euros in
feasibility studies. The GOS will also give 500,000 Euros to
assist in the financing of the GOGB November 16 parliamentary
elections. Lossada met with General Juan Esteban Verastegui,
Chief of the EU mission in Guinea-Bissau, as well.
Verastegui expressed concern that local government
authorities do not have the capability to control the country
and requested that Spain send 3-4 helicopters to the mission
to assist in shore surveillance. Lossada indicated that the
GOS would assess the request.
3. (C) In a subsequent conversation with Spanish Africa Desk
Officer Carmen Fernandez Torres on August 8, Spanish
financial assistance for Guinea-Conakry's democratic
development (through the UNDP) was also confirmed. Fernandez
explained that an important focus of the Lossada trip and the
objective of subsequent aid and development in the region
will be "good governance." She also admitted that the MFA is
only now engaging with Moncloa on summit planning, calling
the summit a "Zapatero initiative." Fernandez anticipates
that it will occur before the end of the year.
Aguirre