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OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHAN #0399/01 1141139
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O 241139Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANTANANARIVO 000399 
 
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TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID PHUM PINR CN
SUBJECT: DELEGATION HOLDS BILATERAL TALKS WITH COMOROS 
 
REF: A) ANTANANARIVO 128 (NOTAL) B) 06 STATE 159380 
 
ANTANANARI 00000399  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Following up on Assistant Secretary Jendayi 
Frazer's suggestion to President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi on the 
sidelines of UNGA last September (REF B), a U.S. delegation led by 
Director of the Office of East African Affairs Eunice Reddick held 
the first ever bilateral discussions with the Government of the 
Union of the Comoros (GOC) April 19.  Although the talks consisted 
mainly of the GOC's "wish list," they were helpful in providing the 
USG with a better understanding of the Comoros' needs and vision for 
the future in terms of the economy, energy, education, health, and 
security.  Post strongly recommends the Department take advantage of 
this window of opportunity to solidify U.S. relations with this 
emerging Muslim democracy through various forms of assistance.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) On the eve of the talks, Reddick and Ambassador McGee held a 
brief meeting with President Sambi (septel).  He said the Comoros 
desires U.S. assistance in order to remain in the club of democratic 
countries and reiterated the GOC's request for military training. 
In subsequent courtesy calls with both Union Vice Presidents and a 
number of ministers, GOC officials made it clear that bilateral 
discussions were a source of encouragement and reassurance.  The 
Vice Presidents identified energy, water, and hospitals as the 
Comoros' greatest needs and described legislation in the works to 
attract private investment. 
 
¶3. (U) Following remarks by U.S. delegation head Eunice Reddick and 
Comoran Minister of External Relations Jaffar at a brief opening 
ceremony April 19, the two sides sat down for a series of 
working-level discussions on the economy and energy, education, 
health, security, and channels of communication.  The talks 
consisted mainly of "wish list" requests from the Comoran side. 
 
ECONOMY AND ENERGY 
- - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶4. (U) The GOC requested U.S. assistance in rehabilitating the 
country's three main power plants to improve the macroeconomic 
situation, raise people's living standards, and facilitate good 
governance; the GOC is seeking USD 4 million to complement the USD 1 
million already provided by the Chinese to kick off the project. 
The U.S. delegation responded that the U.S. company Geothermal 
Development Associates is considering a feasibility study of 
geothermal energy at Mount Karthala later this year. 
 
¶5. (U) The GOC also requested U.S. assistance in establishing a 
public finance database (already partially funded by the World Bank) 
and a 90-day survey on the employment situation.  The USG delegation 
noted the possibility of U.S. Department of Treasury interest in the 
Comoros. 
 
¶6. (U) The U.S. side expressed its advocacy for the World Bank and 
IMF to lift the Comoros' debt through the Highly Indebted Poor 
Countries (HIPC) and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). 
The U.S. delegation also encouraged the GOC to continue working to 
meet the requirements for both the African Growth and Opportunities 
Act (AGOA) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). 
Expressing a keen interest in achieving MCC "threshold" status, the 
Ministry of Exterior Relations is currently drafting a document 
clarifying the Comoros' performance on the seventeen indicators. 
 
EDUCATION 
- - - - - 
 
¶7. (U) The GOC requested U.S. assistance in establishing 
professional training centers and leadership institutes.  Ambassador 
McGee explained that if the U.S.-funded distance education program 
(USD 274,000) and school reconstruction initiatives currently 
underway are a success, Washington may consider expanding education 
programs in the future.  (NOTE: The EU is starting up a USD 10 
million education program and the Chinese are currently assisting 
through the construction of primary school classrooms.  END NOTE.) 
 
 
HEALTH 
- - - - 
 
¶8. (U) The GOC requested assistance in funding an anti-AIDS program 
and setting up a blood bank.  The U.S. side explained that certain 
 
ANTANANARI 00000399  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
international organizations may be better equipped to assist the GOC 
with the technical aspects of these programs.  However, Ambassador 
McGee expressed the hope that if the U.S. civil affairs team's 
program to rebuild schools is successful, they may look at 
rehabilitating clinics in the future.  On the sidelines of the 
bilateral talks, PolEcon Chief asked about efforts to fight malaria. 
 Vice President Ikililou, who is also Health Minister, mentioned a 
bed net distribution program targeting pregnant women and children 
under five.  He also mentioned the Comoros' participation in the 
Global Fund, noting implementation problems in the past and the 
Union Government's expectation that the Comoros will be considered 
for future participation in the program. 
 
SECURITY 
- - - - - 
 
¶9. (U) The GOC requested support in purchasing marine patrol craft, 
establishing biometric passport and national identity card systems, 
procuring x-ray machines to screen passengers and cargo, and 
training personnel in the use of such equipment. Reiterating that 
security is one of the most important aspects of our bilateral 
relationship, the U.S. delegation encouraged the GOC to partner with 
other countries in the region to pool resources for greater overall 
security.  They also encouraged Comoran representatives to attend 
the upcoming Regional Maritime Security Conference to be held in 
Mozambique. 
 
CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶10. (U) The GOC welcomed the establishment of a full-time local-hire 
U.S. Embassy representative in Moroni to facilitate communication. 
Given recent domestic political tension, Ambassador McGee stated the 
U.S. will work primarily with the Union government on all bilateral 
matters - a statement welcomed by Union GOC officials. 
 
GENERAL TAKEAWAYS 
- - - - - - - - - 
 
¶11. (U) The U.S. delegation expressed appreciation for its deeper 
understanding of the Comoros' needs and the GOC's vision.  The U.S. 
Embassy in Madagascar will be better equipped to coordinate with 
other donors to creatively address these needs, whether through 
international organizations, direct technical assistance, or private 
sector partners.  The GOC expressed its appreciation for the U.S. 
delegation's frankness and partnership.  The two sides ended the 
talks with a joint communique reaffirming the mutual desire to 
reinvigorate the bilateral relationship (informal translation 
below). 
 
COMMENT 
- - - - 
 
¶12. (SBU) Emerging from a turbulent political past, the Comoros is 
eagerly courting a relationship with the U.S.  While France, China, 
and Middle Eastern countries are active in the Comoros, GOC 
officials appreciate their relationship with the U.S. as a 
counterbalance promising a certain degree of stability and 
international credibility.  Especially in light of the GOC's 
cooperation in counterterrorism and shutting down the al-Haramein 
charity, Post strongly reiterates its recommendation (REF A) that 
the Department take advantage of this window of opportunity to 
provide this moderate Muslim democracy with greater assistance.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
START TEXT OF JOINT COMMUNIQUE 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
Pursuant to meetings held in New York in September 2006 between the 
President of the Union of the Comoros, His Excellency Mr. AHMED 
ABDALLAH MOHAMED SAMBI and the Assistant Secretary of State for 
African Affairs, Her Excellency Mrs. Jendayi FRAZER, related to the 
strengthening of the relationship between both countries, a Mixed 
Commission meeting took place in Moroni on April 19, 2007. 
 
This Mixed Commission, the first since the establishment of the 
relationship between the United States of America and the Union of 
the Comoros, is of crucial importance for both countries, as it 
symbolizes a new era in the common willingness to reenergize 
bilateral cooperation. 
 
ANTANANARI 00000399  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
The U.S. delegation was led by Her Excellency Mrs. Eunice S. 
REDDICK, Director of the Office of East African Affairs within the 
State Department, and included the following members (see 
appendix). 
 
The Comoran party was led by His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Ben Said 
JAFFAR, Minister of External Relations and Cooperation, and included 
the following members (see appendix). 
 
The Vice-President in charge of the Ministry of Transport, Post and 
Telecommunications and Tourism, His Excellency Mr. IDI NADHOIM, and 
the Vice-President in Charge of the Ministry of Health, Solidarity 
and the Promotion of Gender, His Excellency Mr. Ikililou DHOININE, 
attended the official opening and closing ceremonies of this Mixed 
Commission. 
 
Minister Ahmed Ben Said JAFFAR officially opened the talks. 
 
Both parties jointly chose the following topics of discussion: 
 
- Finance, Energy, and Economy 
- Education 
- Health 
- Security and 
- Communication 
 
During the technical discussions that took place, the 
representatives of the various departments mentioned presented the 
situation in their respective field and stated their needs. 
 
These presentations enabled better understanding of the situation in 
each field and the definition of the actions needed to support 
them. 
 
Following the talks, both parties reaffirmed their common 
willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the realms of 
social and economic development and national security. 
 
The U.S. party expressed its satisfaction with the Union of the 
Comoros' commitment to peace and stability, democracy and good 
governance, and the fight against terrorism for the sake of 
sustainable development. 
 
Regarding the different projects presented, the U.S. party expressed 
its desire to enhance those programs already underway. 
 
Both parties also expressed the desire to deepen the friendship and 
cooperation binding them and to provide mutual support. 
 
The high-level meetings, as well as technical working sessions, took 
place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, and in a climate of full 
understanding. 
 
END TEXT. 
 
MCGEE