VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0752/01 2181949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061949Z AUG 09 ZDK
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7041
RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 0322
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1433
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0932
RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC 0165

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000752 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO, PRM, S/GWI; HHS for John Monahan 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SOCI PHUM ECON EAID KWMN UNGA TZ
SUBJECT: UNGA 64: TANZANIA INVITES PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PARTICIPATION 
IN MATERNAL HEALTH AND AFRICAN JOBS EVENTS 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Tanzanian PermRep Augustine Mahiga requested a meeting with 
Ambassador Rice following up on the May 21 meeting between Tanzanian 
President Kikwete and President Obama, and conveyed Kikwete's hopes 
that President Obama would participate in two high-level events 
contemplated on the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) 
opening on September 23 - one event focused on maternal and child 
health and the other on job creation in Africa.  End summary. 
 
Maternal and Child Health 
------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Mahiga on August 4 conveyed Tanzanian President 
Kikwete's desire to follow up on the discussion he held with 
President Obama in May on the millennium development goals (MDGs), 
particularly MDG 4 and 5 on child mortality and maternal health, 
respectively.  He asked that President Obama take part in the 
Norwegian initiative on global health and MDGs 4 and 5.  Mahiga 
noted that the Norwegians shared information about their initiative 
with delegations at a luncheon connected with the 
Secretary-General's high level forum on health on June 15. 
(Comment: HHS Counselor John Monahan attended the June 15 
Norwegian-hosted luncheon on their health initiative after making a 
statement at the SG's forum.  See USUN press release 128 at 
http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/pr_archi ve_ 
month.php?year=2009&month=6  End comment.)  Mahiga believed the 
Norwegians were now working with the UK on planning a high level 
health event for the margins of the UNGA.  Ambassador Rice responded 
that it is still unclear how much time President Obama will be 
spending in New York and what other commitments he will have, but 
that it is useful to know that President Kikwete views this event as 
important. 
 
¶3. (SBU) (Note: The Norwegian mission confirmed to US Mission that 
their Prime Minister will take part in the event now being planned 
by the UK for Wednesday afternoon, September 23, 3-6 pm, to be 
hosted by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, World Bank President 
Robert Zoellick and possibly the French president or first lady. 
Other probable participants, according to the UK Mission, include: 
the presidents of Tanzania, Nepal, Chile and possibly other African 
countries such as Liberia, Kenya, Mozambique, Burundi and Ghana; the 
prime ministers of Norway and Australia; the foreign ministers of 
France, Germany and Italy; the development minister of the 
Netherlands; and the health minister of Ethiopia.  The focus of this 
high level event will be the need to get the maternal and child 
mortality MDGs on track, particularly through better financing.  The 
UK hopes some participants will announce pledges of financing for 
the health MDGs at the meeting, including through innovative 
financing mechanisms.  The UK is eager to have high-level U.S. 
participation as well, and have mentioned First Lady Michelle 
Obama.) 
 
Jobs Creation 
------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) President Kikwete would also like President Obama to join 
him as co-host of a potential high level policy dialogue on recovery 
from the economic crisis through job creation, particularly for 
youth in Africa, on September 23 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.  The Tanzanian 
mission in New York has been brainstorming internally and working 
with the ILO to establish parameters for such a Kikwete/Obama-hosted 
summit, building upon the ILO's Global Jobs Pact, and resulting in a 
joint statement to be taken up at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh. 
Mahiga passed a Concept Note to Ambassador Rice (e-mailed to 
IO/EDA).  Ambassador Rice reiterated her comments regarding the 
demands on President Obama's time, and asked Mahiga not to circulate 
papers mentioning Obama as an invited co-host unless and until the 
U.S. made a decision that POTUS participation was feasible. 
 
¶5. (SBU) (Comment: Ambassador Rice believes Tanzania will be happy, 
despite rejection of its two proposals, if POTUS has an opportunity 
during UNGA to meet with a group of African heads of state.  End 
comment.) 
 
Documentary Film on Tanzanian Peacekeepers 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (SBU) Mahiga informed Ambassador Rice that he has discussed with 
the U.S. embassy in Dar the possibility of jointly undertaking a 
documentary on Tanzanian participation in UN peacekeeping operations 
which would highlight the assistance Tanzania has received from the 
U.S. and the UK in building Tanzanian capabilities in peacekeeping. 
He hoped a film crew could take footage in New York, Darfur and 
Tanzania.  Ambassador Rice noted that the idea was innovative. 
 
 
 
 
Rice