VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0251 0791856
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191856Z MAR 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3944
INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 0231

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000251 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/UNP, L/DL/, AF/W 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OFDP PREL CM UN
SUBJECT: CAMEROON PROPERTY TAX CASE: JUDGE WANTS PERMREP TO 
APPEAR? 
 
 
¶1. This is an action request for the Department - please see 
paragraph 2. 
 
¶2. USUN has received an advance faxed copy of a diplomatic 
note from the Cameroon Mission expressing its concern at what 
it believes is the District Court's demand that the Permanent 
Representative or his designee appear under oath before the 
judge hearing the case regarding the suit brought by the City 
of New Rochelle, NY on taxation of Cameroon's official 
residence.  The Mission requests USUN's advice on the demand 
and on the case in general.  A "notice of deposition" 
attached to the note indicates that the PermRep or his 
representative or agent should give a deposition before March 
26 in the offices of the plaintiff's (New Rochelle) lawyers. 
USUN seeks guidance on how to respond to the Cameroon 
Mission's note. 
 
¶3. Informal USUN translation of the original French 
diplomatic note from the Cameroon Mission: 
Begin text: (complimentary salutation).. and has the honor to 
inform the (U.S. Mission) of the latest developments 
regarding the case of the City of New Rochelle vs. the State 
of Cameroon. 
 
The Permanent Mission of Cameroon has been for some time the 
object of harassment on the part of the City of New Rochelle 
for the payment of 750,000 dollars in taxes on the official 
residence of the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of 
Cameroon located at 50 Montgomery Circle, New Rochelle, New 
York 10804. 
 
The position of Cameroon in this regard is unwavering.  The 
said residence belongs to the State of Cameroon, and as it 
serves as the official residence of the Ambassador, Permanent 
Representative, it benefits from diplomatic status and 
should, therefore, by the terms of the Vienna Convention on 
Diplomatic Relations, be exempt from the payment of taxes. 
 
The Permanent Mission of the United States was consulted in 
this regard, and at the time advised the Permanent Mission of 
Cameroon to engage the services of a lawyer who would 
advocate the position of Cameroon before the judge hearing 
the case. 
 
The Permanent Mission of Cameroon followed this advice and 
engaged the services of Attorney Denise Bonnaig of Bonnaig 
and Associates, 277 Broadway, Suite 708-70, New York, NY 
10007 (212) 374-1511.  The case is going forward before the 
Court of the Southern District of New York. 
 
The Permanent Mission of Cameroon wishes in this regard to 
express its deep concern with the demand made by the judge 
hearing the case that the Ambassador, Permanent 
Representative or his representative from within the mission 
appear before him to be heard under oath on this case (see 
attached notice of deposition). 
 
According to the lawyer for Cameroon, Judge Fox demands that 
a representative of the mission appear without fail on March 
¶26. 2008. 
 
The Permanent Mission of Cameroon wishes to draw the 
attention of the Permanent Mission of the United States to 
the diplomatic status of the representatives whose appearance 
is demanded before the jurisdiction of the host country and 
wishes to have the advice of the Mission to the United States 
on the aforementioned demand of the judge as well as on the 
case in general. 
 
(Complimentary close). End text. 
KHALILZAD