US embassy cable - 05ABUJA1250

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