(S) NIGER: ENCOURAGING AFRICAN STATES TO TERMINATE

S E C R E T NIAMEY 001162 DEPT FOR AF, AF/W, AF/RSA, ISN, NEA, AND T E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PREL IR NG SUBJECT: (S) NIGER: ENCOURAGING AFRICAN STATES TO TERMINATE DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH IRAN REF: STATE 129098 Classified By: DCM Eric P. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) DCM presented subject demarche to MFA Secretary General Abdoulaye Dan Maradi on December 15, with talking points in non-papers in both French and English. Sec Gen Dan Maradi understood the issue clearly, and confirmed that Niger did not have defense cooperation arrangements with Iran, and had no intentions of commencing to do so. ¶2. (C) Sec Gen Dan Maradi also noted that although Iran had an embassy in Niamey, it had not had representation at the ambassadorial level for the past three years. ALLEN