MALIAN UNGA AND AFRICA-SOUTH AMERICA SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 000602 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL UNGA ML VE SUBJECT: MALIAN UNGA AND AFRICA-SOUTH AMERICA SUMMIT PARTICIPATION, REF: A. STATE 93894 ¶B. STATE 92202 ¶C. STATE 90254 Classified By: PolCouns Peter Newman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) UNGA: PolCouns delivered reftel demarches and invitations to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Americas/Europe Bureau Chief Hamadou Albachir Toure and took the opportunity to speak both about UNGA objectives and the Africa-South America Summit (SASA) hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Regarding USG UNGA positions detailed in Reftel C, Albachir told PolCouns that the Government of Mali did not have any comments at this time. Albachir also informed PolCouns that Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane would lead Mali's delegation to UNGA. ¶2. (SBU) Albachir briefly called into the meeting MFA Counselor on International Organizations Noel Diarra to discuss any possible Malian objectives for UNGA. Diarra, who will accompany FM Ouane to UNGA, mentioned that Mali will submit for discussion a resolution regarding "Assistance to States to Stop the Illicit Circulation and the Collection of Light and Small Calibre Arms." Mali introduced a similar resolution at UNGA 2008 (A/RES/63/66) that was accepted at UNGA and distributed on 12 January 2009. ¶3. (SBU) As reported septel, regarding invitations included in reftels A and B, President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT) deeply regrets that he will be unable to accept President Obama's invitation to lunch on September 22 on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly. September 22 is Mali's Independence Day, and President Toure must remain in Mali. As for the food security meeting, we do not yet have a reply from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶4. (C) VENEZUELA: ATT attended the Libyan celebration of 40 years of Qaddafi's rule and met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on the margins of the celebrations. During a press conference, ATT was quoted by Venezuelan press expressing Mali's support for Venezuelan initiatives and 21st Century Socialism. PolCouns asked Albachir if perhaps the Venezuelan press quoted ATT out of context. Albachir said he was not aware of the quotes, but regardless, if ATT made such statements, they were made most likely out of politeness and should not carry political weight. PolCouns told Albachir that, nonetheless, we view the comments as unhelpful and the Venezuelan Government as having a generally negative influence in world affairs. ¶5. (C) On September 15, the Ambassador raised with the Malian Presidency's Acting Secretary General, Mr. Mamadou Konate, the Venezuelan media reports cited above and expressed concern that Venezuelan President Chavez may use the SASA as a further opportunity to mischaracterize or exploit his relationship with Malian President Toure. Konate said that President Toure's support for a continuing, strong relationship with the United States is well known. Commenting that President Chavez often tries to manipulate relations with Toure, he assured the Ambassador that he would alert ATT and that this would not be a problem. ¶6. (C) The Charge d'Affairs (CDA) of the Venezuelan Mission to Mali also confirmed to PolCouns that ATT had indicated he would attend the SASA. When asked about new cooperation between Venezuela and Mali, the Venezuelan CDA professed ignorance of what ATT and Chavez discussed in Tripoli. He told PolCouns that Chavez makes those sorts of decisions (i.e. foreign assistance) himself; the Venezuelan diplomatic missions just carry out his orders. MILOVANOVIC