VZCZCXRO3600
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHAN #0100/01 0311318
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311318Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4241
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0797
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0349
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0057

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000100 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR TSCHETTER 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER D'ELIA 
NAIROBI FOR USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ECON ENRG KISL CN
SUBJECT: COMOROS EAGER FOR BILATERAL TALKS WITH U.S. 
 
Ref: A) ANTANANARIVO 0077 
 
B) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1207 
C) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1009 
D) 06 STATE 159380 
F) 06 ANTANANARIVO 992 
 
¶1. SUMMARY.  During meetings January 22-23 in the Union of the 
Comoros, PolEcon Chief and visiting Desk Officer laid the ground 
work for the first meeting of the U.S.-Comoros Joint Committee for 
Bilateral Cooperation.  The Comoran officials expressed interest in 
discussing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the 
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) as well as cooperation in others 
fields, including security.  Unless a Washington-based Delegation 
Head were to become available, Ambassador McGee would lead the first 
meeting to the Comoros in February or March, potentially to be 
followed by a second 2007 meeting in the U.S., probably on the 
margins of the UNGA.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. In meetings with Union of the Comoros Vice President Idi's 
Secretary General and Ministry of External Affairs Secretary General 
 
SIPDIS 
(both Deputy equivalents), PolEcon Chief and visiting DeskOff 
discussed possible topics for bilateral discussions between the 
Government of the Union of the Comoros (GOC) and the United States. 
SG Inzouddine suggested discussing qualification for AGOA and asked 
for more information to pursue Comoros access to U.S. markets under 
the program.  Repeating a request President Sambi made to the 
Ambassador in an earlier meeting, GOC officials asked about 
eligibility for a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact. 
Acknowledging Comoros might be a long road away from meeting the 
requirements, officials asked only that the United States explain 
where to begin and what steps to take.  Comoran Charge d' Affaires 
to New York Mahmoud Aboud, in Moroni for consultations, tentatively 
scheduled with DeskOff to visit Washington in the near future for 
initial discussion with MCC officials about the program.  Overall, 
the GOC sought themes of U.S. friendship and opportunity for the 
agenda for bilateral talks later this year. 
 
¶3. On format, the GOC officials accepted in principle that 
Ambassador McGee could lead the delegation to inaugurate the 
"U.S.-Comoros Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation" in the near 
future, to be followed by higher-level talks, perhaps on the 
sidelines of meetings in Washington or New York.  Vice President 
Idi, who also holds several key Ministerial portfolios, would open 
the talks with the Ambassador.  A half-day of working-level meetings 
on AGOA, MCC, possible education and health cooperation, and talks 
on ongoing security cooperation would round out the agenda. 
 
¶4. While grateful for the frequent contact with U.S. Embassy 
Antananarivo, SG Inzouddine urged the United States to establish a 
permanent presence in Moroni.  PolEcon Chief and DeskOff shared that 
a recommendation for an official American presence in Comoros was 
under consideration, but no decision has been made.  The SG noted 
that a U.S. diplomatic presence would provide "balance" in Comoros; 
restating the point that all tangible signs of U.S. friendship 
"reassured" the Comoran people. 
 
¶5. Finally, both SGs emphasized the need for "economic partners" for 
development in Comoros.  Vice President Idi reportedly wants to 
encourage geothermal energy projects around the Karthala volcano to 
meet energy needs - if feasible.  Given ExxonMobil's exploration in 
the Mozambique Channel off Madagascar's coast, GOC officials are 
also hopeful that Comoros may have petroleum reserves.  The GOC 
would welcome American private sector participation in part of the 
bilateral talks, if not in energy, then in other promising sectors 
in Comoros like tourism, agribusiness or light manufacturing (if 
AGOA becomes a reality). 
 
¶6. Both officials commended the United States for the distance 
education program just underway in Comoros to train teachers via 
radio broadcasts.  In a separate meeting, the Union Minister of 
Education affirmed that material and human resources would be 
devoted to completing the distance education materials.  Our 
interlocutors noted the Peace Corps did a great deal to improve 
education until the program closed in the mid-1990s.  As Post hears 
regularly, GOC officials made a plea for reopening the Peace Corps 
program - emphasizing how the Program reassured the Comoran 
population about American friendship.  Secretary General Mouigni 
recalled a certain "famous" Volunteer, Bob White, who used to sing 
in the Comoran language on a radio program. 
 
¶7. COMMENT:  Surprisingly, an explicit request for financial 
assistance was not raised in these meetings, although this would 
obviously be welcome given the budget difficulties in the Comoros. 
Our interlocutors enthusiastically supported the inauguration of 
U.S. - Comoros bilateral talks as a sign of friendship and welcomed 
this series of brainstorming sessions to consider possible 
 
ANTANANARI 00000100  002 OF 002 
 
 
opportunities.  With the Department's consent, Post will continue to 
flesh out a program for one-day U.S. - Comoros bilateral talks to 
realize Assistant Secretary Frazer's proposal to President Sambi in 
September 2006.  END COMMENT. 
 
MCGEE