US embassy cable - 01ABUJA1935

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001935 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2011 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, NI, WCAR 
SUBJECT: POLICY CHANGE ON WCAR KNOWN AT FOREIGN MINISTRY 
 
 
REF: ANDREWS/LANIER E-MAILS 08/03/01 
 
 
Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter, reason 1.5(b/d) 
 
 
1.  (C)  Acting Polcouns met August 3 with Deputy Director of 
the Second United Nations Division (SUND) at the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Ibrahim, in the absence of Director 
Akinsanya, now in Geneva.  SUND has primary action for the 
WCAR within the Ministry.  Ibrahim said that SUND and the 
Ministry generally were "well aware" of President Obasanjo's 
"U-turn" on the WCAR.  Although careful to say that he had 
seen no formal instructions (he had just returned from a 
conference, and did not normally handle WCAR issues), Ibrahim 
said  that Geneva "must" have been told to follow Obasanjo's 
policy position.  He also acknowledged that Obasanjo's 
decision to substitute UN Ambassador Arthur Mbanefo for the 
GON's Geneva representative for the WCAR Prepcom in Geneva 
was "well known" within the Ministry and, he assumed, had 
been communicated to the concerned parties. 
 
 
2.  (C)Ibrahim said that the Ministry was in a state of 
"shock" over Obasanjo's decision to jettison support for 
reparations for colonial-era slavery.  "This has been our 
position for ten years," said Ibrahim in a tone of 
considerable disappointment.  "We should not drop it 
overnight."  Ibrahim suggested that the GON would find itself 
"very isolated" within the Africa group on WCAR, and GON 
relations with other African states would be harmed by this 
sudden turn-around.  "This is something we should approach 
gradually," he said.  "We should work with our neighbors," he 
said, to change how Africans dealt with the issue.  But, said 
Ibrahim, "He (Obasanjo) is our President, and he has made his 
decision." 
 
 
3.  (C) Comment.  We were not able to confirm the actual 
transmittal of instructions to Geneva on WCAR.  Although 
Ibrahim's comments make it clear that the MFA understands 
from basement to roof that Nigeria's long-standing position 
has suddenly and drastically changed, USDEL may wish to 
consider an early approach to Ambassador Mbanefo. He is 
frequently in direct contact with President Obasanjo and 
would be the best channel to exploit at this time in order to 
elicit vocal Nigerian support for removal of offensive 
language on all relevant issues.  Early engagement would also 
help forestall any attempt by unreconstructed members of the 
Nigerian delegation to work quietly against the new policy. 
End comment. 
 
 
Jeter