HIGH-POWERED CAMEROONIAN DELEGATION TO AGOA: A

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000707 SIPDIS PARIS AND LONDON PASS TO AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CM ECON EFIN ETRD OVIP PGOV SUBJECT: HIGH-POWERED CAMEROONIAN DELEGATION TO AGOA: A CASE FOR SENIOR MEETINGS REF: YAOUNDE 698 ¶1. Cameroonian Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni will lead a high-powered, 26-member delegation to the upcoming AGOA Forum, which will include Finance Minister Essimi Menye, Minister of External Relations Henri Eyebe Ayissi, Minister of Economy and Planning Louis Paul Motaze, Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbaraga Atangana, the President of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, and several other senior GRC officials. The Prime Minister has requested meetings with Secretary Rice, Secretary of Treasury Paulson, Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez, Secretary of Agriculture Schafer and US Trade Representative Schwab. Post supports high-level meetings for this delegation, at the Cabinet-level if possible. ¶2. To our knowledge, this is probably the most senior Cameroonian delegation to AGOA ever, reflecting in part Cameroon's renewed sense of urgency about improving its investment climate (the PM, who leads government efforts on investment issues, was in London last week at an Africa-wide investment meeting). It also reflects a desire by the GRC to engage the U.S. on other serious challenges facing the country, such as the handover of the Bakassi Peninsula in mid-August and high oil and food prices (which contributed to national unrest in February). The GRC values its 50-year friendship with the United States and sees our relationship as an important counterbalance to France and China. ¶3. We hope this visit will help push the GRC to accelerate economic reforms, boost investment, and do more to take advantage of AGOA. We also hope to use high-level bilaterals to encourage greater democracy and better governance. The U.S. has strategic interests in Cameroon which include its oil and minerals, its Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline, its relative stability in a conflict-prone area, and its port (the largest and busiest in Central Africa). A good, high level reception of this AGOA delegation will substantially further our interests, goals, and influence in Cameroon. ¶4. Post acknowledges the lateness of the GRC's meeting requests and greatly appreciates their consideration. GARVEY