VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCO #0349/01 1751405
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231405Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0381
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS COTONOU 000349 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/ES-O AND S/ES-CR AND AF/W FOR DBANKS 
 
E.O. 12958 N/A 
TAGS: OPDC PREL PGOV BN
SUBJECT: YAYI WRITES TWICE FOR FOOD AID FUNDS 
 
REF:  Dougherty/Brown e-mail dated 6/17/2008. 
 
1.(SBU) Recently, President Yayi sent two letters to the Embassy for 
President Bush requesting assistance in response to rising food 
prices.  In one dated June 7, 2008, he requested the donation of 
food products including corn, rice, and beans, and in another dated 
June 12, 2008, asked for short-term funding to purchase seeds, 
fertilizer, and pesticide.  As instructed (ref e-mail), the 
Ambassador met with President Yayi and Ambassador Diallo, Special 
Advisor for Diplomatic Affairs, on June 19 and reiterated the 
necessity - given the number of his letters - for future 
communications of this nature to be made directly with the Embassy. 
President Yayi said that he would do so. 
 
2.(U) Both original letters will be sent by pouch to S/ES-CR.  The 
Embassy's informal translation of both letters follows: 
 
3.(U)  Letter dated June 7, 2008: 
 
Begin informal translation of letter: 
 
Dear Mr. President and Dear Friend: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shortly after the Summit organized by the FAO in Rome on world food 
security where I had hoped to discuss with you bilateral 
co-operation and the means of ending the new food crisis whose 
consequences are particularly disastrous in Africa, I would like to 
express my satisfaction with the decisions made. 
 
Like the other countries in the sub region, my country, Benin is 
confronted with the explosion of food prices. The measures that my 
Government took by anticipation helped curb the crisis just a 
little. But as it is persisting, my means have decreased. 
 
Under these circumstances, I can only turn to friendly countries 
such as the United States of America for solidarity towards my 
People to avoid a food catastrophe by providing us with donations of 
food products such as corn, rice and bean or financial assistance 
for their acquisition. 
 
Thank you in advance for the consideration that will be given to my 
request. Please accept, Mr. President and Dear Friend, the 
expression of my highest consideration. 
 
Yours warmly, 
 
/Signed/ 
Dr. Boni Yayi 
 
End informal translation 
 
4.(U) Letter dated June 12, 2008: 
 
(Begin Translation) 
 
Dear President: 
 
The food crisis is a critical concern to my country, Benin. Indeed, 
the crisis is hitting all countries in the world, but my country is 
among the countries that are most affected by the impact of the 
crisis due to the vulnerability of their economies. The progress 
achieved by my country through important sacrifices in making 
reforms and fighting poverty may well be jeopardized by this 
exogenous shock that is exacerbated by the increase in the prices of 
energy products of which Benin is a net importer. 
 
So we must act. Fast. In order to find the most efficient path. 
 
This is the reason why I call upon you to help my country maximize 
its chances to rapidly end the food crisis by boosting our 
agricultural productivity rather than by providing us with food aid. 
The planting season will start in a few weeks. We need your 
financial assistance urgently to buy agricultural inputs like 
improved seeds, pesticide, and fertilizers; the success of the 
campaign is contingent upon those. 
 
Benin plans in the mid and long term to increase the output of 
products that are subject to speculation, namely corn (2,000,000 
tons), cassava (3,000,000 tons) rice (600,000 tons), millet, sorghum 
and fonio (3,000,000 tons). 
 
To this end, I kindly request for my country financial support in 
the form of your country's assistance to buy in a very short term 
some inputs (seeds and fertilizers) and pesticide to rapidly 
distribute to private producers. 
 
In the hope that you will agree quickly to my request, I give you, 
Mr. President, my very highest consideration. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
/Signed/ 
Dr Boni YAYI 
 
President of the Republic of Benin 
 
(End translation of letter) 
 
BROWN