UNGA 64: TANZANIA INVITES PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PARTICIPATION

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000752 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO, PRM, S/GWI; HHS for John Monahan E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI PHUM ECON EAID KWMN UNGA TZ SUBJECT: UNGA 64: TANZANIA INVITES PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PARTICIPATION IN MATERNAL HEALTH AND AFRICAN JOBS EVENTS Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Tanzanian PermRep Augustine Mahiga requested a meeting with Ambassador Rice following up on the May 21 meeting between Tanzanian President Kikwete and President Obama, and conveyed Kikwete's hopes that President Obama would participate in two high-level events contemplated on the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) opening on September 23 - one event focused on maternal and child health and the other on job creation in Africa. End summary. Maternal and Child Health -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Mahiga on August 4 conveyed Tanzanian President Kikwete's desire to follow up on the discussion he held with President Obama in May on the millennium development goals (MDGs), particularly MDG 4 and 5 on child mortality and maternal health, respectively. He asked that President Obama take part in the Norwegian initiative on global health and MDGs 4 and 5. Mahiga noted that the Norwegians shared information about their initiative with delegations at a luncheon connected with the Secretary-General's high level forum on health on June 15. (Comment: HHS Counselor John Monahan attended the June 15 Norwegian-hosted luncheon on their health initiative after making a statement at the SG's forum. See USUN press release 128 at http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/pr_archi ve_ month.php?year=2009&month=6 End comment.) Mahiga believed the Norwegians were now working with the UK on planning a high level health event for the margins of the UNGA. Ambassador Rice responded that it is still unclear how much time President Obama will be spending in New York and what other commitments he will have, but that it is useful to know that President Kikwete views this event as important. ¶3. (SBU) (Note: The Norwegian mission confirmed to US Mission that their Prime Minister will take part in the event now being planned by the UK for Wednesday afternoon, September 23, 3-6 pm, to be hosted by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, World Bank President Robert Zoellick and possibly the French president or first lady. Other probable participants, according to the UK Mission, include: the presidents of Tanzania, Nepal, Chile and possibly other African countries such as Liberia, Kenya, Mozambique, Burundi and Ghana; the prime ministers of Norway and Australia; the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Italy; the development minister of the Netherlands; and the health minister of Ethiopia. The focus of this high level event will be the need to get the maternal and child mortality MDGs on track, particularly through better financing. The UK hopes some participants will announce pledges of financing for the health MDGs at the meeting, including through innovative financing mechanisms. The UK is eager to have high-level U.S. participation as well, and have mentioned First Lady Michelle Obama.) Jobs Creation -------------- ¶4. (SBU) President Kikwete would also like President Obama to join him as co-host of a potential high level policy dialogue on recovery from the economic crisis through job creation, particularly for youth in Africa, on September 23 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. The Tanzanian mission in New York has been brainstorming internally and working with the ILO to establish parameters for such a Kikwete/Obama-hosted summit, building upon the ILO's Global Jobs Pact, and resulting in a joint statement to be taken up at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh. Mahiga passed a Concept Note to Ambassador Rice (e-mailed to IO/EDA). Ambassador Rice reiterated her comments regarding the demands on President Obama's time, and asked Mahiga not to circulate papers mentioning Obama as an invited co-host unless and until the U.S. made a decision that POTUS participation was feasible. ¶5. (SBU) (Comment: Ambassador Rice believes Tanzania will be happy, despite rejection of its two proposals, if POTUS has an opportunity during UNGA to meet with a group of African heads of state. End comment.) Documentary Film on Tanzanian Peacekeepers -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Mahiga informed Ambassador Rice that he has discussed with the U.S. embassy in Dar the possibility of jointly undertaking a documentary on Tanzanian participation in UN peacekeeping operations which would highlight the assistance Tanzania has received from the U.S. and the UK in building Tanzanian capabilities in peacekeeping. He hoped a film crew could take footage in New York, Darfur and Tanzania. Ambassador Rice noted that the idea was innovative. Rice