Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COTONOU311
2009-07-17 08:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
BENIN: REACTION TO OBAMA-MEDVEDEV SUMMIT
how-toVZCZCXRO0085 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHCO #0311 1980827 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 170827Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1037 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1494 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0453
UNCLAS COTONOU 000311
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT, AF/W ACOOK, VHARPER
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: REACTION TO OBAMA-MEDVEDEV SUMMIT
REF: STATE 71326
UNCLAS COTONOU 000311
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT, AF/W ACOOK, VHARPER
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: REACTION TO OBAMA-MEDVEDEV SUMMIT
REF: STATE 71326
1. The Charge delivered the demarche requested reftel to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Marie Ehouzou on July 14th.
Ehouzou was very animated and positive discussing the success of
Obama's trip to Moscow. He noted that is was obvious that President
Obama was a man of peace and Medvedev looked at ease with him.
Ehouzou went on to say that the path to peace was in place and would
be difficult undo now.
2. Ehouzou also remarked on President Obama's July 11 visit to
Accra Ghana and praised Obama for visiting a country that was a
prime example of democracy. He hoped in the future that Benin would
also be rewarded with a visit to "crown the efforts" of the GOB.
3. Ehouzou praised the US for treating small countries as well as
we treat big countries. After recent postings at the UN, he was
critical of countries that tied aid to votes and was glad the US did
not bully poor countries in that way. He criticized the US embargo
of Cuba while saying that Cuba should be condemned for human rights
abuses. He felt reasoned delegates would vote, as he did, with Cuba
on lifting the embargo, but against them on human rights issues.
4. Ehouzou praised the OAS for supporting the ousted president of
Honduras and wished that the AU would be as strong in the face of
coups d'etat.
5. Ehouzou also addressed the New Embassy Compound, which should
have a cleared, paid for and designated site soon. He complimented
several other USG NEC's he had seen while traveling and hoped to see
a beautiful modern building in Cotonou's administrative district
soon. The Charge thanked him for his support in the matter and
cautioned that a finished building was still a few years away.
BOUSTANI
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT, AF/W ACOOK, VHARPER
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: REACTION TO OBAMA-MEDVEDEV SUMMIT
REF: STATE 71326
1. The Charge delivered the demarche requested reftel to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Marie Ehouzou on July 14th.
Ehouzou was very animated and positive discussing the success of
Obama's trip to Moscow. He noted that is was obvious that President
Obama was a man of peace and Medvedev looked at ease with him.
Ehouzou went on to say that the path to peace was in place and would
be difficult undo now.
2. Ehouzou also remarked on President Obama's July 11 visit to
Accra Ghana and praised Obama for visiting a country that was a
prime example of democracy. He hoped in the future that Benin would
also be rewarded with a visit to "crown the efforts" of the GOB.
3. Ehouzou praised the US for treating small countries as well as
we treat big countries. After recent postings at the UN, he was
critical of countries that tied aid to votes and was glad the US did
not bully poor countries in that way. He criticized the US embargo
of Cuba while saying that Cuba should be condemned for human rights
abuses. He felt reasoned delegates would vote, as he did, with Cuba
on lifting the embargo, but against them on human rights issues.
4. Ehouzou praised the OAS for supporting the ousted president of
Honduras and wished that the AU would be as strong in the face of
coups d'etat.
5. Ehouzou also addressed the New Embassy Compound, which should
have a cleared, paid for and designated site soon. He complimented
several other USG NEC's he had seen while traveling and hoped to see
a beautiful modern building in Cotonou's administrative district
soon. The Charge thanked him for his support in the matter and
cautioned that a finished building was still a few years away.
BOUSTANI