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O 030738Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4791
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS ACCRA 001451
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CI GH PREL SO SU
SUBJECT: PDAS THOMAS-GREENFIELD MEETS WITH PRESIDENT KUFUOR
1. (SBU) Summary: On June 28, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield and the U.S.
SIPDIS
delegation to the Africa Union Summit met with Ghanaian
President John Kufuor. Kufuor agreed with the USG approach
on Sudan but his staff thought the current draft UNSC
resolution on Sudan required softening. He reiterated the
GOG's commitment of 350 troops to AMISOM. End summary.
3. (SBU) Sudan/UNSC Resolution: P/DAS Thomas Greenfield
pointed out that the U.S. welcomed the willingness of Ghana
and the United Kingdom to co-sponsor the draft UNSC
resolution authorizing the hybrid force. P/DAS urged that
Ghana as a member of the Security Council and Chair of the AU
use its influence to seek buy-in from other African leaders.
Kufour agreed with most of the content of the resolution.
However, Special Advisor to the Chairman of the African Union
Nana Effah Apenteng, who was in the meeting, said he thought
some of the resolution required softening. Kufuor was
frustrated that neither Rwandan nor Ghanaian troops were
being paid. P/DAS and the President agreed that the U.S. and
AU are on the same page on Sudan, stressing the need to apply
continued pressure on Bashir.
4. (SBU) Somalia: Kufour and his Special Senior Advisor on
the African Union Lt. General Seth Obeng indicated that Ghana
was unable to contribute a full battalion to AMISOM but
remained committed to providing 350 troops, who they said are
already prepared to deploy with support from the
international community. The President agreed to draft a
communique to the AU in this regard.
5. (SBU) Cote de Ivoire: P/DAS and President Kufuor both
expressed satisfaction with the current state of peace in
Cote de Ivoire. They agreed the next important step is the
voter registration exercise. (Note: we heard reports that
morning that there was an unsuccessful attack on Prime
Minister Soro's plane. End note.)
6. (U) Participants: P/DAS was accompanied to the meeting
by: Pamela E. Bridgewater, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana; Cindy
L. Courville, U.S. Ambassador to the Africa Union; Captain
William S. Couch, Joint Task Force Horn of Africa; Jerry
Lanier, Director, Office of Regional Security Affairs for
Africa; Lauren Landis, Senior Representative on Sudan, Sudan
Programs; and USAID/Ghana, Program Officer and AU Control
Officer, Regina Dennis. GOG participants included: Special
Advisor to the Chairman of the African Union, Nana Effah
Apenteng; MFA Director of African Union Hanson Hall; and
Special Senior Advisor to the AU Lt. General Seth Obeng.
BRIDGEWATER