This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ABUJA 001562
SIPDIS
ALSO FOR PATRICIA ROBINSON XIM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN KTIA NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA PREPARED TO SIGN BILATERAL DEBT
AGREEMENT
REF: (A) WONG-GREGOIRE 082703/1920 E-MAIL AND
ATTACHMENTS (NOTAL), (B) ROBINSON-WONG 082603/0835 E-
MAIL AND ATTACHMENTS (NOTAL)
1. IN RESPONSE TO REF A, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF
NIGERIA'S DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE (DMO) AKIN ARIKAWE
TOLD ECON COUNSELOR AFTERNOON OF SEPTEMBER 4 THAT THE
DMO IS PREPARED TO SIGN A BILATERAL DEBT AGREEMENT
WITH THE USG WITHIN A WEEK; I.E., BY SEPTEMBER 12,
2003. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHEN WE MIGHT EXPECT A CABLE
FROM WASHINGTON AUTHORIZING EMBASSY CHARGE ROGER A.
MEECE (CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, A.I.) TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
2. IF POSSIBLE, MISSION WOULD PREFER TO SIGN THE
AGREEMENT THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8. FINANCE MINISTER
NGOZI, WHO WILL SIGN IT ON BEHALF OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, WILL BE IN NIGERIA ONLY DURING
THAT WEEK IN SEPTEMBER. ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 12, SHE
WILL TO TRAVEL TO BAHRAIN FOR THE WORLD BANK AND IMF
FALL MEETINGS, AND MAY NOT RETURN TO NIGERIA UNTIL THE
FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER.
3. PLEASE SEND US THE FINAL AGREEMENT FOR SIGNATURE
BY UPS OR DHL NO LATER THAN CLOSE OF BUSINESS MONDAY,
SEPTEMBER 8, IF IT IS TO BE SIGNED NO LATER THAN THE
END OF NEXT WEEK.
MEECE