Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1171
2009-06-26 12:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA: VISITS OF SPANISH AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS

Tags:  PGOV PREL NI RS SP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 261212Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6415
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0079
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0091
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1969
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RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 1566
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RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
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).

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