(S) NIGER: UPDATE ON IRANIAN OUTREACH

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