VZCZCXRO6192
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0027/01 0122124
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 122124Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5567
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1720
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000027 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA, ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU - J MAYBURY, 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SOCI KDEM EU US NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: EU DELEGATION HEAD EXPLAINS VIEWS ON 
NIGERIEN POLITICAL IMPASSE, COTONOU ACCORD CONSULTATIONS 
 
REF: 09 NIAMEY 1005 
 
Classified By: DCM Eric Whitaker, Reason:  Section 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C/NF) Summary:  Although the EU has suspended budgetary 
support to the Government of Niger (GON) due to recent 
anti-constitutional actions by President Tandja, it will 
continue humanitarian aid, including food security. 
According to the EU Head of Delegation, the EU has provided a 
120-day window in its Cotonou Accord consultations with the 
GON, during which it is monitoring negotiations between the 
GON and the political Opposition.  Although the Embassy plans 
not to attend President Tandja's January 13 New Year's 
address to the diplomatic corps, the EU has decided to do so 
in consideration of ongoing GON-Opposition dialogue, which it 
is monitoring as an element of the EU's ongoing Cotonou 
Accord consultation with the GON.  The German DCM recently 
noted that the ECOWAS Mediator for the GON-Opposition 
negotiations had asked the EU expressly not to issue a 
statement following the December 22 end of President Tandja's 
second term of office under the 1999 Constitution, even as 
the USG chose to do so.  End summary. 
 
EY Delegation Head:  120-Day Window; Assessment Coming 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
¶2. (C/NF) On January 6, European Union (EU) Head of 
Delegation Hans-Peter Schadek (protect) called on DCM to 
confer on the current Nigerien political impasse and the 
demise of democracy over the past half year.  Schadek said 
that the EU had decided to provide the Government of Niger 
with a 120-day period from December 8, 2009 to pursue 
political accommodation with the Opposition in relation to 
ongoing Cotonou Accord Article 96 consultations between the 
EU and the GON.  In early February 2010, the EU will conduct 
a mid-term assessment of progress to date in the 
GON-Opposition negotiations as a part of the EU-GON 
consultations.  The EU, he added, was not considering travel 
restrictions on GON officials at this time. 
 
EU Budget Aid Suspended, Humanitarian Aid to Continue 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶3. (C/NF) Schadek stated that the EU had "provisionally" 
suspended direct budgetary support to the GON, and that no 
new programs that were not humanitarian in nature ) 
including food security - would be launched.  Those existing 
would run their course and not be "renewed."  Humanitarian 
programs to be continued included those involving "vulnerable 
groups" and those in the Agadez area of northern Niger, which 
had been hit hard by late 2009 flooding and the consequences 
of nearly three years of rebel conflict. 
 
¶4. (SBU) DCM provided Schadek English and French copies of 
the December 23 statement by the Department of State 
regarding the USG decision to suspend non-humanitarian 
assistance and levy travel restrictions against the GON, and 
clarified the nature and extent of assistance programs that 
the USG would continue to provide to Niger. 
 
Schadek:  President Tandja to Address Dip Corps 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶5. (C/NF) Before departing, Schadek recalled that the annual 
New Year's address of the diplomatic corps by President 
Tandja would soon occur, and inquired as to whether the U.S. 
Embassy would be represented.  The DCM responded that the 
matter was under consideration, and that the Embassy would 
notify Schadek subsequently of its decision; Schadek 
indicated that his inclination at present was not to 
participate.  On January 12, DCM advised Schadek that the 
Embassy had decided not to participate in the January 13 
event; Schadek said that while he would represent the EU at 
President Tanja's address, he would leave the event promptly. 
 He noted that the EU-GON consultation process was ongoing, 
and that no conclusion yet had been reached. 
 
Mediator Asks EU to not Issue Statement 
--------------------------------------- 
¶6. (C/NF) Note:  On New Year's Eve, German Deputy Chief of 
Mission Thomas Weber (protect) had advised DCM that ECOWAS 
Mediator for the Inter-Nigerien Political Dialogue (reftel) 
retired General and former Nigerian head of state Abdulsalami 
Aboubakar had asked the EU not to issue a statement in the 
wake of the passing of December 22, which would have been the 
 
NIAMEY 00000027  002 OF 002 
 
 
last day of President Tandja's second term in office, and 
final day under the 1999 Constitution.  End note. 
 
ALLEN