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RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0158/01 0341627
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031626Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0032
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000158 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ECON EFIN EMIN LI
SUBJECT: THIS, TOO, IS LIBERIA: FEBRUARY 3, 2010 
 
¶1. (U) This round-up cable, named after a popular daily feature in 
a local newspaper, covers the following topics: 
 
 
 
-- U.S. Firm To Begin Drilling For Oil 
 
-- Donors Push Renewed Commitment to Kimberley Process 
 
-- USG Portfolio Review with the Government of Liberia (GOL) 
 
-- Ambassador and USAID Director Meet the Press 
 
-- Seabees Renovate Redemption Hospital 
 
-- Health Unit to Host Health Fair February 12 
 
-- Liberia To Host Africa-China-U.S. Trilateral Dialogue 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) U.S. Firm To Begin Drilling For Oil: Houston-based 
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation representatives told Econoff January 
29 that it hopes to build on its September 2009 oil discovery off 
the coast of Sierra Leone with plans to drill in Liberian water 
beginning August 2010.  Anadarko has an interest in four of the 
seventeen concession blocks in Liberian coastal waters, in addition 
to its holdings in Sierra Leone and Ghana.  Logistical support for 
the explorative endeavor will be provided through Cote d'Ivoire. 
However, in the coming months, Anadarko will transport 50 employees 
through Roberts International Airport (RIA) four times per week by 
private plane and helicopter.  If large oil deposits are found, it 
will be nearly a decade before oil revenue flows to the GOL. 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) Donors Push Renewed Commitment to Kimberley Process: After 
the UN Panel of Experts (POE) released its final, scathing report 
in December on Liberia's compliance with the Kimberley Process 
Certification Scheme (KPCS) suggesting that Liberia has backtracked 
in areas such as internal controls and chain of custody 
requirements, the Ambassador and Special Representative to the 
Secretary General agreed to resurrect the Diamond Task Force (DTF) 
and insist upon monthly ministerial-level meetings.  The DTF also 
reconstituted a working-level technical committee (including 
Econoff) that meets twice weekly to develop action plans to address 
the Kimberly Process Review Report and POE Report findings and 
implement recommendations.   The DTF will meet for the second time 
later in February. 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) USG Portfolio Review with the Government of Liberia (GOL): 
On January 20, 2010, the US Mission, including DOS, USAID, and DOD, 
led a full-day annual review of its assistance portfolio with GOL 
officials including four Ministers and four Deputy Ministers.  The 
review featured past, present and future USAID programs, including 
their successes and challenges, in the Economic Growth, Democracy 
and Governance, GEMAP, and Health and Education sectors.  DOD and 
INL presented the Peace and Security portfolio.  Time was allotted 
for the GOL reaction to each of the presentations which sparked 
some lively question and answer sessions.  The Minster of Planning 
and Economic Affairs was so pleased with the review that he has 
instructed his ministry to use this model for the review of all aid 
portfolios. 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) Ambassador and USAID Director Meet the Press:   The 
Ambassador and USAID Mission Director briefed the press about 
economic growth assistance to Liberia on January 29.  The 
Ambassador and Mission Director underscored the GOL's commitment to 
leading the process and the Embassy's focus on providing support. 
They called on the Liberian people to provide assistance to these 
endeavors as well.  In their coverage, the press highlighted the 
Ambassador's remark that, "...there can be no economic growth 
without good governance and transparency.  So all agencies of the 
USG support Liberia's efforts to stem corruption and ensure that 
this country's public resources are enjoyed by all."   The press 
conference produced excellent media coverage, including an 
editorial by the Inquirer Newspaper. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) Seabees Renovate Redemption Hospital:  The Ambassador 
performed the ribbon cutting/dedication ceremony on January 28 as a 
detachment of Navy Seabees completed the Redemption Hospital Health 
Care Annex project which involved building two children's wards and 
 
MONROVIA 00000158  002 OF 002 
 
 
a laundry facility.  Six Armed Forces of Liberia construction 
engineers received training working on the project with the 
Seabees.  Redemption Hospital is the primary health care facility 
run by the Ministry of Health and was filled beyond its capacity. 
The ward was dedicated to Builder Third Class Joshua Carrell, a 
Seabee who died from malaria in December 2009. 
 
 
 
¶7. (U) EMBASSY Health Unit to Host Health Fair February 12:  The 
Health Unit in collaboration with USAID and Presidential Malaria 
Initiative (PMI) Partners will host their annual health fair on 
February 12.  "Challenge Malaria," is the theme, because malaria is 
the leading cause of under-five deaths in Africa, and especially in 
Liberia.  The health fair is designed to encourage staff and their 
families to challenge malaria by using prevention methods and 
approved medical intervention.  Underscoring the need for malaria 
prevention are the recent deaths of a Navy Seabee and a Chinese 
scientist assigned to Cuttington Agriculture Research Institute, 
both of cerebral malaria. 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) Liberia To Host Africa-China-U.S. Trilateral Dialogue:  The 
Africa-China-U.S. Trilateral Dialogue plans to hold a meeting at 
the RLJ Kendeja Resort in Monrovia February 24-25.  The two-day 
event, sponsored by the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation and the Chinese 
Academy of Social Sciences, will focus on corporate social 
responsibility.  The U.S. and Chinese Ambassadors will both give 
opening remarks. 
ROBINSON