Cablegate: International Coordination On Kidnappings in Niger

VZCZCXRO9836
OO RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN
DE RUEHUJA #2087 2261448
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141448Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6775
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS IMMEDIATE 4792
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS ABUJA 002087

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI HOSTAGES MILITANTS OIL
DELTAVIOLENCE
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION ON KIDNAPPINGS IN NIGER
DELTA

1. In response to the hostage takings of August 13, at our
invitation the Chiefs of Mission in paragraph 2 met on August
14 to share information and talk about a common approach to
the Nigerian government to express concern about hostage
taking and its acceleration in the Delta. They agreed to
send a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) requesting a meeting with the National Security Advisor
(NSA) to express concern about the continued kidnappings of
expatriates which has accelerated and to ask his views about
the way forward. The British High Commission is taking the
lead in drafting the diplomatic note, and we are taking the
lead in contacting the NSA to arrange a meeting.

2. Present at the August 14 meeting were the ambassadors
from Germany, Belgium, Norway, and Ukraine. Also present
were the Dutch DCM and the British High Commission.

3. Not present at the meeting were the ambassadors of
Ireland, Poland, and Morocco. They have citizens involved in
the kidnappings and will be involved in sending the
diplomatic note to MFA and in meeting with the NSA.
CAMPBELL

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