Cablegate: Nigeria Responds to Demarche On G-4 Resolution

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

111723Z Jul 05

UNCLAS ABUJA 001250

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KUNR AORC NI UNSC
SUBJECT: NIGERIA RESPONDS TO DEMARCHE ON G-4 RESOLUTION
ON UN REFORM, SEEKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR PERMANENT UNSC
SEAT

REF: STATE 126870

1. (U) On the morning of July 11 at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Abuja, Acting DCM delivered
reftel demarche on UN reform to Ambassador Chike Alex
Anigbo, Director of the First United Nations Department
of the MFA. Poloff served as notetaker.

2. (SBU) A/DCM delivered reftel talking points to
Anigbo. Anigbo responded that he was sure the U.S. was
aware of the unanimous African Union (AU) summit
decision to seek two permanent and five non-permanent
UN Security Council (UNSC) seats for Africa. Anigbo
said he was aware that since UNSC membership is a
global matter, there will still be extensive
consultations on the matter. He acknowledged that the
U.S. has announced support only for Japan's UNSC
candidacy, but hoped Nigeria could count on the U.S.'s
support. He suggested that other countries might lobby
the U.S. on behalf of Nigeria's candidacy, although
Nigeria had thought the U.S. would lobby other
countries on Nigeria's behalf.

3. (SBU) Anigbo expressed some agreement with our
talking points, saying that the AU does not recognize
the G-4 because the group does not represent any
region. The AU is taking a strong regional position
and will negotiate reciprocal support with other
regions, he said, adding, "Africa is the only region
that speaks with one voice." Until the AU says
otherwise, "our one voice is calling for two permanent
and five non-permanent seats" on the UNSC.

4. (SBU) When A/DCM repeated the message that the G-4
resolution was flawed, Anigbo said it was unlikely to
pass because of the "coffee club:" a group of
"spoilers" that opposed the G-4. He listed some
examples: South Korea and China will never accept
Japan's candidacy, Italy and Spain will oppose Germany,
Pakistan will oppose India, and Argentina and Mexico
will oppose Brazil. The "coffee club," he said, was so
named because "they meet like in a coffee shop and
talk." The group of countries had been known as
"United for Consensus" and had included African
countries, but in the wake of the AU decision, no
African countries were still in the group, he
explained.

5. (SBU) A/DCM also informed Anigbo that Secretary
Rice would participate in part of the AGOA Forum in
Dakar, Senegal. Anigbo confirmed that the GON's
Minister of Commerce would attend, and said the
President might attend, but he was not sure.

CAMPBELL

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