Niger: Anti-Referendum Consortium Leaders Request U.S.

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000407 DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL SOCI NG SUBJECT: Niger: Anti-Referendum Consortium Leaders Request U.S. Ambassador to Facilitate Meeting with Diplomatic Corps REF: a) Niamey 406 b) Niamey 377 ¶1. (SBU) On June 1, Ambassador Allen received a letter from the Front for the Defense of Democracy (FDD),an anti-referendum consortium (ref b),requesting that she as "Dean of the Diplomatic Corps" facilitate a meeting with the diplomatic corps to discuss the political, social and economic situation in Niger. It was signed by 23 out of 24 leaders in the consortium. ¶2. (SBU) The unofficial translation of the letter follows. Begin text. The political party, union and civil society leaders who form the Front for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) present their compliments to Madame the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Niger and have the honor to ask her to please intercede with the members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Niger with the aim to organize a meeting to exchange views on the political, social and economic situation in Niger. The date, hour and place of the said meeting are at the convenience of Madame the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. The members of FDD thank you for your understanding and have no doubt of the promptness with which this request will be treated. We take advantage of this opportunity to renew to Madame the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps the assurances of our highest consideration. End text. Attached to the letter are two pages that list political parties, unions and civil society groups together with the respective leaders' names, contact numbers and signatures. ¶3. (U) On June 2 the Ambassador's reply to the FDD letter simply acknowledged its receipt and noted that she is not the dean of the diplomatic corps. (Note: The dean of the diplomatic corps in Niger is the Ambassador from Chad, followed by the Algeria, People's Republic of China and United States of America, in that order. The Chadian Ambassador is currently out of the country. End note.) Allen