Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10LIBREVILLE72
2010-02-11 13:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:
GABON: HIGH-LEVEL NORTH KOREAN VISIT; REQUEST FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO1580 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHLC #0072 0421345 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 111345Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1730 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0157 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0099
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000072
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO AND AF/C
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL UNSC GB
SUBJECT: GABON: HIGH-LEVEL NORTH KOREAN VISIT; REQUEST FOR
SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL UN OFFICE
Classified By: Ambassador Eunice S. Reddick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000072
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO AND AF/C
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL UNSC GB
SUBJECT: GABON: HIGH-LEVEL NORTH KOREAN VISIT; REQUEST FOR
SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL UN OFFICE
Classified By: Ambassador Eunice S. Reddick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (SBU) Gabonese Foreign Minister Paul Toungui officially
informed the Ambassador on February 8 that a high-level North
Korean delegation led by Kim Yong Nam will visit Libreville
during a tour of African countries at the end of February.
Kim Yong Nam is the President of the Presidium of the Supreme
People's Assembly. Toungui also informed ambassadors
representing other Permanent members of the U.N. Security
Council (UNSC) separately. The Gabonese wanted to share
information with the U.S. about the upcoming North Korean
visit. The Ambassador thanked the Foreign Minister for
alerting the U.S. and said she would reach out to Washington
and New York for more information on the current state of
play on North Korean issues.
2. (C) Toungui expressed appreciation for the strong and
open relationship between Gabon and the United States. He
described President Bongo Ondimba's meeting with Assistant
Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson in Addis Ababa
on February 1 as "excellent" and a good introduction for
Bongo. The Ambassador told Toungui that U.S.-Gabonese
consultations in Washington on January 29 regarding United
Nations Security Council issues were very productive.
3. (SBU) Gabon also (d was) requested U.S. assistance with
the U.N. Department of Political Affairs on the issue of the
location of a regional office in Central Africa. Gabon is
one of three countries (Gabon, Cameroon, and Equatorial
Guinea) being considered. Gabon is high on the list because
it is the headquarters of the Economic Community of Central
African States (CEEC) and its infrastructure. A technical
team inspected the proposed building and property that the
Gabonese Government will donate for the office and residence
of the special represenative over the past week. The
police-protected site is on the large Cite de la Democracie
compound that also houses a conference center, offices and
residences for Gabonese officials and diplomats. Toungui
said that the U.N. first approached Gabon in December and
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also discussed the issue
with Bongo on the margins of the African Union summit.
Toungui said that the "large countries" have a say at the
U.N. Political Affairs office and requested U.S. support for
the regional office to be located in Libreville. Ambassador
(d Reddick) promised to follow up with our U.N. Mission in
New York and Washington.
4. (C) Comment: Gabonese officials believe (d that) they
have been included on the North Korean delegation's tour
because of Gabon's non-permanent seat on the UNSC. Post
views this as an opportunity to influence Gabon's
decision-making and would greatly appreciate current
information on the status of non-proliferation and human
rights issues on North Korea. We also would like to be able
to confirm if U.S. has a role to play or a position regarding
the location of the U.N. regional office.
REDDICK
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO AND AF/C
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL UNSC GB
SUBJECT: GABON: HIGH-LEVEL NORTH KOREAN VISIT; REQUEST FOR
SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL UN OFFICE
Classified By: Ambassador Eunice S. Reddick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (SBU) Gabonese Foreign Minister Paul Toungui officially
informed the Ambassador on February 8 that a high-level North
Korean delegation led by Kim Yong Nam will visit Libreville
during a tour of African countries at the end of February.
Kim Yong Nam is the President of the Presidium of the Supreme
People's Assembly. Toungui also informed ambassadors
representing other Permanent members of the U.N. Security
Council (UNSC) separately. The Gabonese wanted to share
information with the U.S. about the upcoming North Korean
visit. The Ambassador thanked the Foreign Minister for
alerting the U.S. and said she would reach out to Washington
and New York for more information on the current state of
play on North Korean issues.
2. (C) Toungui expressed appreciation for the strong and
open relationship between Gabon and the United States. He
described President Bongo Ondimba's meeting with Assistant
Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson in Addis Ababa
on February 1 as "excellent" and a good introduction for
Bongo. The Ambassador told Toungui that U.S.-Gabonese
consultations in Washington on January 29 regarding United
Nations Security Council issues were very productive.
3. (SBU) Gabon also (d was) requested U.S. assistance with
the U.N. Department of Political Affairs on the issue of the
location of a regional office in Central Africa. Gabon is
one of three countries (Gabon, Cameroon, and Equatorial
Guinea) being considered. Gabon is high on the list because
it is the headquarters of the Economic Community of Central
African States (CEEC) and its infrastructure. A technical
team inspected the proposed building and property that the
Gabonese Government will donate for the office and residence
of the special represenative over the past week. The
police-protected site is on the large Cite de la Democracie
compound that also houses a conference center, offices and
residences for Gabonese officials and diplomats. Toungui
said that the U.N. first approached Gabon in December and
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also discussed the issue
with Bongo on the margins of the African Union summit.
Toungui said that the "large countries" have a say at the
U.N. Political Affairs office and requested U.S. support for
the regional office to be located in Libreville. Ambassador
(d Reddick) promised to follow up with our U.N. Mission in
New York and Washington.
4. (C) Comment: Gabonese officials believe (d that) they
have been included on the North Korean delegation's tour
because of Gabon's non-permanent seat on the UNSC. Post
views this as an opportunity to influence Gabon's
decision-making and would greatly appreciate current
information on the status of non-proliferation and human
rights issues on North Korea. We also would like to be able
to confirm if U.S. has a role to play or a position regarding
the location of the U.N. regional office.
REDDICK