Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10NIAMEY71
2010-01-27 21:32:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:
(S) NIGER: UPDATE ON IRANIAN OUTREACH
how-toVZCZCXRO9774 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHNM #0071 0272132 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 272132Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5593 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1725 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
S E C R E T NIAMEY 000071
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, S/CT, NEA/IR, AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020
TAGS: PREL ETRD PGOV PINR EAID ENRG KISL SCUL IR NG
SUBJECT: (S) NIGER: UPDATE ON IRANIAN OUTREACH
REF: A. NIAMEY 00055
B. USDAO NIAMEY IIR 6 928 0028 10 DATED 19 JANUARY
2010
Classified By: CDA Eric P. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T NIAMEY 000071
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, S/CT, NEA/IR, AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020
TAGS: PREL ETRD PGOV PINR EAID ENRG KISL SCUL IR NG
SUBJECT: (S) NIGER: UPDATE ON IRANIAN OUTREACH
REF: A. NIAMEY 00055
B. USDAO NIAMEY IIR 6 928 0028 10 DATED 19 JANUARY
2010
Classified By: CDA Eric P. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Contrary to ref A, Government of Niger Minister of
Agricultural Development Moussa Labo and Minister of
Commerce, Industry, and Standardization Halidou Badj recently
traveled to Tehran, rather than Prime Minister Gamatie. On
January 26 they met with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki,
according to Tehran's Fars News Agency in English of January
26 as received through Open Source Center (OSC). The article
quoted Mottaki as stating, "Iran's private companies and
firms can speed up Niger's train of development." He noted
that Iranian firms could assist Niger with technical and
engineering services as well as dam, bridge, and power plant
construction projects. Finally, he noted the oil, gas, and
energy sector as among areas for possible bilateral
cooperation.
2. (S/NF) In addition, an article in Tehran's IRNA in English
of January 27 received from OSC stated that Nigerien women
participated in the January 27-28 first international
gathering, "Women Scientists of the Islamic World," jointly
hosted by Iran's Ministry of Higher Education and the Islamic
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)
National Commission in Iran.
3. (S/NF) Finally, Iranian Charge d'Affaires Hussein Taghbar,
the sole accredited Iranian diplomat to Niger, paid a
courtesy call on President Tandja on January 21. GON-owned
daily newspaper "Le Sahel" published a photograph of the
visit in its January 22 edition, with the GON Minister of
Professional and Technical Training Dagra Mamadou, who is
currently acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
4. (S/NF) Comment: As discussed in ref A, the GON appears to
be turning toward non-traditional partners for assistance,
with the Ambassador of China, Ambassador of Libya, and
officials of an international Islamic association all calling
on President Tandja during the past week, with photographs of
each meeting published prominently in the GON newspaper "Le
Sahel." End comment.
WHITAKER
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, S/CT, NEA/IR, AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020
TAGS: PREL ETRD PGOV PINR EAID ENRG KISL SCUL IR NG
SUBJECT: (S) NIGER: UPDATE ON IRANIAN OUTREACH
REF: A. NIAMEY 00055
B. USDAO NIAMEY IIR 6 928 0028 10 DATED 19 JANUARY
2010
Classified By: CDA Eric P. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Contrary to ref A, Government of Niger Minister of
Agricultural Development Moussa Labo and Minister of
Commerce, Industry, and Standardization Halidou Badj recently
traveled to Tehran, rather than Prime Minister Gamatie. On
January 26 they met with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki,
according to Tehran's Fars News Agency in English of January
26 as received through Open Source Center (OSC). The article
quoted Mottaki as stating, "Iran's private companies and
firms can speed up Niger's train of development." He noted
that Iranian firms could assist Niger with technical and
engineering services as well as dam, bridge, and power plant
construction projects. Finally, he noted the oil, gas, and
energy sector as among areas for possible bilateral
cooperation.
2. (S/NF) In addition, an article in Tehran's IRNA in English
of January 27 received from OSC stated that Nigerien women
participated in the January 27-28 first international
gathering, "Women Scientists of the Islamic World," jointly
hosted by Iran's Ministry of Higher Education and the Islamic
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)
National Commission in Iran.
3. (S/NF) Finally, Iranian Charge d'Affaires Hussein Taghbar,
the sole accredited Iranian diplomat to Niger, paid a
courtesy call on President Tandja on January 21. GON-owned
daily newspaper "Le Sahel" published a photograph of the
visit in its January 22 edition, with the GON Minister of
Professional and Technical Training Dagra Mamadou, who is
currently acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
4. (S/NF) Comment: As discussed in ref A, the GON appears to
be turning toward non-traditional partners for assistance,
with the Ambassador of China, Ambassador of Libya, and
officials of an international Islamic association all calling
on President Tandja during the past week, with photographs of
each meeting published prominently in the GON newspaper "Le
Sahel." End comment.
WHITAKER