Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1950
2009-10-25 15:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA PREPARES FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON UN
how-toVZCZCXRO9229 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHUJA #1950 2981525 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251525Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7310 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2156 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0425 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001950
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, AND IO/UNP (GOLDENBERG)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR UNSC GV NG NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA PREPARES FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON UN
SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: ABUJA 1903 (NOTAL)
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 001950
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, AND IO/UNP (GOLDENBERG)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR UNSC GV NG NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA PREPARES FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON UN
SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: ABUJA 1903 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) On October 21, Charge, PolCouns, and PolOff met
Nigerian Foreign Ministry (MFA) International Organizations
Director Ambassador M. K. Ibrahim to congratulate Nigeria on
its election to the UN Security Council (UNSC) and discuss
coordination on upcoming UNSC issues. Ibrahim replied that
he looked forward to working closely with the U.S. and
receiving our support on issues of importance to Nigeria and
Africa.
--------------
NIGERIA'S PRINCIPAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
--------------
2. (C) Ibrahim said that the GON would emphasize issues of
importance to Africa, including development, peace, and
security. He expressed hope, in particular, that issues of
peace and security would gain resolution in the region,
including Western Sahara, Sudan, and Niger. On the domestic
front, Ibrahim volunteered that his country was "bungling"
through the process of consolidating democracy, but he
insisted that Nigeria remained "better" than ten years ago.
--------------
EARLY COORDINATION ON ISSUES WILL BE KEY
--------------
3. C) Ibrahim emphasized the importance of coordinating early
with the GON on multilateral issues. He noted that many
issues would require decisions by Foreign Minister Ojo
Maduekwe, who travels frequently outside Nigeria.
-------------- --------------
GON WON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT ALWAYS OPEN TO DIALOGUE
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Charge noted that recent UN votes showed there was no
longer an Africa or African Union (AU) consensus, and hoped
that the U.S. and Nigeria could work together based on our
shared principles of support for democracy, human rights, and
economic development. Ibrahim agreed on the importance of
shared principles, but noted that Nigeria would need to
"represent" the views of West Africa and the continent. The
GON and the U.S. will not always agree, he said, but regular
dialogue will minimize differences.
--------------
WORRISOME DEVELOPMENTS IN NIGER AND GUINEA
--------------
5. (C) Ibrahim expressed concern over political developments
in Niger and Guinea. He stated that Libyan leader Muammar
Qadaffi has played a meddlesome role in Niger based on his
personal relationship with Niger's leader. Commenting on the
October 17 ECOWAS summit in Abuja (reftel),Ibrahim remarked
that "attendance could have been better, but the decision
taken is what matters." He welcomed Niger's suspension from
ECOWAS, but appealed for international support to apply
additional pressure on the regime in Niger, particularly
since, he said, it depends on foreign assistance for some 80
percent of its budget.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, AND IO/UNP (GOLDENBERG)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR UNSC GV NG NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA PREPARES FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON UN
SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: ABUJA 1903 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) On October 21, Charge, PolCouns, and PolOff met
Nigerian Foreign Ministry (MFA) International Organizations
Director Ambassador M. K. Ibrahim to congratulate Nigeria on
its election to the UN Security Council (UNSC) and discuss
coordination on upcoming UNSC issues. Ibrahim replied that
he looked forward to working closely with the U.S. and
receiving our support on issues of importance to Nigeria and
Africa.
--------------
NIGERIA'S PRINCIPAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
--------------
2. (C) Ibrahim said that the GON would emphasize issues of
importance to Africa, including development, peace, and
security. He expressed hope, in particular, that issues of
peace and security would gain resolution in the region,
including Western Sahara, Sudan, and Niger. On the domestic
front, Ibrahim volunteered that his country was "bungling"
through the process of consolidating democracy, but he
insisted that Nigeria remained "better" than ten years ago.
--------------
EARLY COORDINATION ON ISSUES WILL BE KEY
--------------
3. C) Ibrahim emphasized the importance of coordinating early
with the GON on multilateral issues. He noted that many
issues would require decisions by Foreign Minister Ojo
Maduekwe, who travels frequently outside Nigeria.
-------------- --------------
GON WON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT ALWAYS OPEN TO DIALOGUE
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Charge noted that recent UN votes showed there was no
longer an Africa or African Union (AU) consensus, and hoped
that the U.S. and Nigeria could work together based on our
shared principles of support for democracy, human rights, and
economic development. Ibrahim agreed on the importance of
shared principles, but noted that Nigeria would need to
"represent" the views of West Africa and the continent. The
GON and the U.S. will not always agree, he said, but regular
dialogue will minimize differences.
--------------
WORRISOME DEVELOPMENTS IN NIGER AND GUINEA
--------------
5. (C) Ibrahim expressed concern over political developments
in Niger and Guinea. He stated that Libyan leader Muammar
Qadaffi has played a meddlesome role in Niger based on his
personal relationship with Niger's leader. Commenting on the
October 17 ECOWAS summit in Abuja (reftel),Ibrahim remarked
that "attendance could have been better, but the decision
taken is what matters." He welcomed Niger's suspension from
ECOWAS, but appealed for international support to apply
additional pressure on the regime in Niger, particularly
since, he said, it depends on foreign assistance for some 80
percent of its budget.
SANDERS