Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1847
2009-10-08 07:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA PROFESSES LITTLE TO NO INFLUENCE WITH IRAN
how-toVZCZCXRO5126 PP RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHDU RUEHKUK RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHUJA #1847 2810728 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 080728Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7174 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001847
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P (MULL),NEA/IR, PM/IAEA, ISN/RA (NEPHEW),AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2019
TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC IR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA PROFESSES LITTLE TO NO INFLUENCE WITH IRAN
ON IAEA ISSUES
REF: A. STATE 103219
B. STATE 99897
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001847
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P (MULL),NEA/IR, PM/IAEA, ISN/RA (NEPHEW),AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2019
TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC IR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA PROFESSES LITTLE TO NO INFLUENCE WITH IRAN
ON IAEA ISSUES
REF: A. STATE 103219
B. STATE 99897
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) PolOffs briefed Foreign Ministry (MFA) First United
Nations Director Maria Laose October 6 on the outcome of
Geneva talks with Iran (Ref A) and delivered a non-paper on
Iran's covert uranium enrichment facility (Ref B). In
response, Laose professed that her government had "no
influence" with Iran on International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) issues. She added, however, that Nigeria held more
sway with Iran within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC),where both are members. Moreover, Laose
pledged that the Nigerian Government (GON) would pursue IAEA
issues at the UN Security Council (UNSC) should it gain
election to a two-year rotating UNSC seat. She claimed
support for GON candidacy from both the African Union (AU)
and Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS),
predicting that African nations not supporting GON candidacy
"simply won't vote" October 15.
2. (C) Laose also expressed appreciation for "positive
shifts" in U.S. policy on Iran's right to nuclear energy.
Nigeria, she remarked, found herself in a situation similar
to Iran, where "we have plenty of oil, but need alternate
forms of energy." Laose emphasized her government's firm
belief in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),noting
that her government had joined a dozen other nations in
voting "no" on limiting the treaty's deadline, because the
NPT has "kept us away from nuclear war." Indeed, she said,
the GON wanted all countries outside the NPT to join. While
underscoring that her government would ask Iran to live up to
its NPT commitments, she encouraged governments to emphasize
the IAEA's "technical" work over political aspects.
MCCULLOUGH
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P (MULL),NEA/IR, PM/IAEA, ISN/RA (NEPHEW),AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2019
TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC IR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA PROFESSES LITTLE TO NO INFLUENCE WITH IRAN
ON IAEA ISSUES
REF: A. STATE 103219
B. STATE 99897
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) PolOffs briefed Foreign Ministry (MFA) First United
Nations Director Maria Laose October 6 on the outcome of
Geneva talks with Iran (Ref A) and delivered a non-paper on
Iran's covert uranium enrichment facility (Ref B). In
response, Laose professed that her government had "no
influence" with Iran on International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) issues. She added, however, that Nigeria held more
sway with Iran within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC),where both are members. Moreover, Laose
pledged that the Nigerian Government (GON) would pursue IAEA
issues at the UN Security Council (UNSC) should it gain
election to a two-year rotating UNSC seat. She claimed
support for GON candidacy from both the African Union (AU)
and Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS),
predicting that African nations not supporting GON candidacy
"simply won't vote" October 15.
2. (C) Laose also expressed appreciation for "positive
shifts" in U.S. policy on Iran's right to nuclear energy.
Nigeria, she remarked, found herself in a situation similar
to Iran, where "we have plenty of oil, but need alternate
forms of energy." Laose emphasized her government's firm
belief in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),noting
that her government had joined a dozen other nations in
voting "no" on limiting the treaty's deadline, because the
NPT has "kept us away from nuclear war." Indeed, she said,
the GON wanted all countries outside the NPT to join. While
underscoring that her government would ask Iran to live up to
its NPT commitments, she encouraged governments to emphasize
the IAEA's "technical" work over political aspects.
MCCULLOUGH