THIS, TOO, IS LIBERIA: FEBRUARY 3, 2010

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000158

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ECON EFIN EMIN LI
SUBJECT: THIS, TOO, IS LIBERIA: FEBRUARY 3, 2010


1. (U) This round-up cable, named after a popular daily feature in
a local newspaper, covers the following topics:



-- U.S. Firm To Begin Drilling For Oil

-- Donors Push Renewed Commitment to Kimberley Process

-- USG Portfolio Review with the Government of Liberia (GOL)

-- Ambassador and USAID Director Meet the Press

-- Seabees Renovate Redemption Hospital

-- Health Unit to Host Health Fair February 12

-- Liberia To Host Africa-China-U.S. Trilateral Dialogue




2. (SBU) U.S. Firm To Begin Drilling For Oil: Houston-based
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation representatives told Econoff January
29 that it hopes to build on its September 2009 oil discovery off
the coast of Sierra Leone with plans to drill in Liberian water
beginning August 2010. Anadarko has an interest in four of the
seventeen concession blocks in Liberian coastal waters, in addition
to its holdings in Sierra Leone and Ghana. Logistical support for
the explorative endeavor will be provided through Cote d'Ivoire.
However, in the coming months, Anadarko will transport 50 employees
through Roberts International Airport (RIA) four times per week by
private plane and helicopter. If large oil deposits are found, it
will be nearly a decade before oil revenue flows to the GOL.




3. (U) Donors Push Renewed Commitment to Kimberley Process: After
the UN Panel of Experts (POE) released its final, scathing report
in December on Liberia's compliance with the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS) suggesting that Liberia has backtracked
in areas such as internal controls and chain of custody
requirements, the Ambassador and Special Representative to the
Secretary General agreed to resurrect the Diamond Task Force (DTF)
and insist upon monthly ministerial-level meetings. The DTF also
reconstituted a working-level technical committee (including
Econoff) that meets twice weekly to develop action plans to address
the Kimberly Process Review Report and POE Report findings and
implement recommendations. The DTF will meet for the second time
later in February.




4. (U) USG Portfolio Review with the Government of Liberia (GOL):
On January 20, 2010, the US Mission, including DOS, USAID, and DOD,
led a full-day annual review of its assistance portfolio with GOL
officials including four Ministers and four Deputy Ministers. The
review featured past, present and future USAID programs, including
their successes and challenges, in the Economic Growth, Democracy
and Governance, GEMAP, and Health and Education sectors. DOD and
INL presented the Peace and Security portfolio. Time was allotted
for the GOL reaction to each of the presentations which sparked
some lively question and answer sessions. The Minster of Planning
and Economic Affairs was so pleased with the review that he has
instructed his ministry to use this model for the review of all aid
portfolios.




5. (U) Ambassador and USAID Director Meet the Press: The
Ambassador and USAID Mission Director briefed the press about
economic growth assistance to Liberia on January 29. The
Ambassador and Mission Director underscored the GOL's commitment to
leading the process and the Embassy's focus on providing support.
They called on the Liberian people to provide assistance to these
endeavors as well. In their coverage, the press highlighted the
Ambassador's remark that, "...there can be no economic growth
without good governance and transparency. So all agencies of the
USG support Liberia's efforts to stem corruption and ensure that
this country's public resources are enjoyed by all." The press
conference produced excellent media coverage, including an
editorial by the Inquirer Newspaper.




6. (U) Seabees Renovate Redemption Hospital: The Ambassador
performed the ribbon cutting/dedication ceremony on January 28 as a
detachment of Navy Seabees completed the Redemption Hospital Health
Care Annex project which involved building two children's wards and

MONROVIA 00000158 002 OF 002


a laundry facility. Six Armed Forces of Liberia construction
engineers received training working on the project with the
Seabees. Redemption Hospital is the primary health care facility
run by the Ministry of Health and was filled beyond its capacity.
The ward was dedicated to Builder Third Class Joshua Carrell, a
Seabee who died from malaria in December 2009.




7. (U) EMBASSY Health Unit to Host Health Fair February 12: The
Health Unit in collaboration with USAID and Presidential Malaria
Initiative (PMI) Partners will host their annual health fair on
February 12. "Challenge Malaria," is the theme, because malaria is
the leading cause of under-five deaths in Africa, and especially in
Liberia. The health fair is designed to encourage staff and their
families to challenge malaria by using prevention methods and
approved medical intervention. Underscoring the need for malaria
prevention are the recent deaths of a Navy Seabee and a Chinese
scientist assigned to Cuttington Agriculture Research Institute,
both of cerebral malaria.




8. (U) Liberia To Host Africa-China-U.S. Trilateral Dialogue: The
Africa-China-U.S. Trilateral Dialogue plans to hold a meeting at
the RLJ Kendeja Resort in Monrovia February 24-25. The two-day
event, sponsored by the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation and the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, will focus on corporate social
responsibility. The U.S. and Chinese Ambassadors will both give
opening remarks.
ROBINSON