US embassy cable - 01ABUJA1974

UNCLAS ABUJA 001974 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC, EAIR, NI 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA RESPONDS TO U.S. ICAO COUNCIL CANDIDACY 
WITH REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR ITS CANDIDACY 
 
REF: (A) STATE 131233 (B) ABUJA 983 
 
 
1. Sensitive but Unclassified, please protect accordingly. 
 
 
2. (U) On August 6, Econoff presented Ref A demarche to Mr. 
Kabir Ilyasu, Minister-Counselor, Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, Second United Nations Division (SUND).  Ilyasu was 
aware of the upcoming International Civil Aviation 
Organization (ICAO) election, and commented that he did not 
believe the U.S. would have any problem with its re-election 
bid as a Category One country. 
 
 
3. (SBU) Ilyasu stated that Nigeria was seeking re-election 
as a Category Two country, and was also requesting support 
for its re-election bid.  Ilyasu indicated that a number of 
countries have expressed support for Nigeria,s candidacy, 
specifically mentioning a positive response from Japan.  When 
Econoff presented Reftel talking points/non-paper, Mr. Ilyasu 
commented that the GON would have preferred "official 
correspondence" in the form of a diplomatic note.  He offered 
that the GON would support the U.S. candidacy, with the 
understanding that the USG would support Nigeria's candidacy 
as well.  (Comment.  As was mentioned in Ref B, the GON 
requested USG support in May 2001 for its ICAO Council 
candidate.  End Comment.) 
 
 
4. (SBU) Econoff thanked the Minister-Counselor for informing 
the USG about Nigeria's candidacy as a Category Two country 
and advised that the USG would give Nigeria's re-election bid 
full consideration.  However, Econoff made clear that he was 
not in a position to respond to Ilyasu's quid pro quo offer. 
Econoff asked if Ilyasu was aware of any countries seeking 
election as a Category Two, which did not presently have that 
status or potentially would as a group representative. 
Ilyasu replied that he believed South Africa was seeking 
election as a Category Two country. 
Jeter