Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YAOUNDE707
2008-07-09 16:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
HIGH-POWERED CAMEROONIAN DELEGATION TO AGOA: A
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHYD #0707 1911607 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 091607Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9100 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 1747 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 2090 RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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
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
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