NIGERIA: VISITS OF SPANISH AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001171 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL NI RS SP SUBJECT: NIGERIA: VISITS OF SPANISH AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The June visits of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Spanish President Jose Zapatero marked the first visits by a head of state or government of either of these countries since Nigeria's independence. Nigerian contacts have pointedly contrasted the visits of these major European leaders with the decision of President Obama to by-pass Nigeria on his first visit to the region since taking office. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Abuja, Nigeria on June 24-25 with a trade delegation from Moscow. According to local press, the delegation included Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Shmatko, Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom CEO Sergei Kiriyenko, Russian diamond monopoly Alrosa CEO Sergei Vyborov, and representatives of Russian gas giant Gazprom. Discussions focused on developing Nigeria's gas sector (including discussions of a Trans-Saharan gas pipeline),developing civilian nuclear technology, improving global energy security and responding to the global economic crisis. Six bilateral agreements were signed by President Yar'Adua and President Medvedev on: investment promotion and protection, nuclear energy cooperation, space technology and exploration, prisoner transfers, and an MOU establishing a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) and Gazprom. The two Presidents also discussed the need for a system of international relations that takes into account the interests of all countries and the need to strengthen the coordinating role of the United Nations. ¶3. (SBU) Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero visited Abuja, Nigeria on June 22-23, coinciding with the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) Summit. During bilateral meetings, Zapatero and Yar'Adua signed agreements to avoid double taxation, establish a bilateral Spanish-Nigerian Commission and promote tourism and culture. At a dinner hosted in his honor (Ambassador attended), Zapatero said that Spain was stepping up its relations with African nations, adding that Nigeria was one of the most important countries on the continent and that his country had developed a new African strategy. The Zapatero dinner was attended by a few of the visiting ECOWAS heads of state (HOS) such as Senegal's Wade, Liberia's Johnson Sirleaf, Niger's Tandja and Togo's Gnassingbe, to name a few. At a joint news conference with President Yar'Adua, Zapatero supported the GON's calls to reform the membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),noting that approximately 30% of the matters discussed on the council are related to Africa. He called the absence of an African member (Note: from the context he was clearly referring to a permanent member. End note) on the UNSC an "injustice." He also praised the GON for its active role in UN and regional peacekeeping operations. (Comment: These statements were widely interpreted in Nigerian press as support for Nigeria to become a permanent member of the UNSC. End Comment.) The two Presidents also discussed energy security, natural gas investments, and ways to enhance Spanish investment in Nigerian infrastructure projects. ¶4. (C) Comment: Nigerian contacts have pointedly contrasted the visits of these major European leaders, as well as all these West African HOS, with the decision of President Obama to by-pass Nigeria on his first visit to the region since taking office. End Comment. ¶5. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. SANDERS