Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA284
2009-02-13 12:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION
how-toVZCZCXRO1493 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0284 0441248 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131248Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5289 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0828 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0401 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0010 RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE 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 000284
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PREL AORC ICJ NI KV
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION
REF: STATE 11928
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 000284
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PREL AORC ICJ NI KV
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION
REF: STATE 11928
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to A.A. Adepoju,
Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Europe Division,
on February 12. Adepoju said Nigeria would continue to
remain neutral on the issue of Kosovo recognition, noting
that there is no unified African position. He explained that
the Biafran war of separation and the current armed conflict
in the Niger Delta made Nigeria particularly sensitive to
issues of secession. "We are not against Kosovo," Adepoju
told Poloff, noting that the GON recognizes the human rights
dimension to Kosovo's independence. However, he maintained
that any action taken by the GON to recognize that
independence officially could be misconstrued by those
continuing to support Biafran independence or even Niger
Delta militants as support for their own claims to self
determination. Adepoju contended that the issue is sensitive
to several African nations and that, as a result, Kosovo's
recognition has been sidelined, not even being raised at the
early February African Union meetings in Addis Ababa, despite
Senegal's desire to bring it to the table as it had
previously at the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
2. (C) Adepoju told Poloff that any public statements in
support of Kosovo's recognition would be more likely to come
from the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations, rather than
the GON in Abuja for the reasons above. He volunteered to
Poloff that, if the USG desired a public statement of support
from the GON, the best avenue would be to approach the
Nigerian U.N. Mission directly to make the case. Adepoju
claimed the Nigerian Mission does not/not have any
instructions to oppose Kosovo recognition at the U.N. level,
but rather has taken a "wait and see" attitude. Any approach
to the Nigerian Mission to the U.N., Adepoju told Poloff,
should focus on the human rights aspects of Kosovo
independence.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PREL AORC ICJ NI KV
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION
REF: STATE 11928
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to A.A. Adepoju,
Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Europe Division,
on February 12. Adepoju said Nigeria would continue to
remain neutral on the issue of Kosovo recognition, noting
that there is no unified African position. He explained that
the Biafran war of separation and the current armed conflict
in the Niger Delta made Nigeria particularly sensitive to
issues of secession. "We are not against Kosovo," Adepoju
told Poloff, noting that the GON recognizes the human rights
dimension to Kosovo's independence. However, he maintained
that any action taken by the GON to recognize that
independence officially could be misconstrued by those
continuing to support Biafran independence or even Niger
Delta militants as support for their own claims to self
determination. Adepoju contended that the issue is sensitive
to several African nations and that, as a result, Kosovo's
recognition has been sidelined, not even being raised at the
early February African Union meetings in Addis Ababa, despite
Senegal's desire to bring it to the table as it had
previously at the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
2. (C) Adepoju told Poloff that any public statements in
support of Kosovo's recognition would be more likely to come
from the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations, rather than
the GON in Abuja for the reasons above. He volunteered to
Poloff that, if the USG desired a public statement of support
from the GON, the best avenue would be to approach the
Nigerian U.N. Mission directly to make the case. Adepoju
claimed the Nigerian Mission does not/not have any
instructions to oppose Kosovo recognition at the U.N. level,
but rather has taken a "wait and see" attitude. Any approach
to the Nigerian Mission to the U.N., Adepoju told Poloff,
should focus on the human rights aspects of Kosovo
independence.
SANDERS