a écrit le 6 septembre 2011 à 1h53 Corruption/Budget Transparency
¶9. (C) Ambassador praised Cameroon´s continued focus on fighting corruption, including renewed arrests of alleged corrupt officials, but also expressed concerns that legal procedures be fully pursued. She detailed USG support for anti-corruption efforts. Biya said he wouldn´t release those arrested for
corruption "until they admit they did something wrong." He was pleased with USG cooperation in combating corruption and stressed that corrupt officials "stole a lot of money." He confirmed that
more corruption-related arrests were coming under his anti-corruption initiative Operation Epervier" (Sparrowhawk), although (contrary to rumor) he thought this would not likely include former Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni because the evidence against him was thin and he didn´t steal much money. Epervier had sent a useful anti-corruption signal which has had some effect, he thought; however, he wanted to rethink the approach of arresting officials and focus more on getting the stolen money back. He had more information about corruption committed by former Secretary General in the Presidency Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara.
¶10. (SBU) The USG is particularly concerned about Cameroon´s slow progress toward improving budget execution and transparency, the Ambassador noted, explaining that a failure to improve budget
transparency could trigger a cut-off of bilateral assistance under U.S. law. She also hoped that Cameroon would be successful when it comes up for validation in March under the Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Biya agreed that Cameroon needed to do better in budget transparency and utilization, singling out the National Investment Company (SNI) as having a particularly nontransparent budget. He would talk to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister about this issue and EITI.
Elections
¶11. (C) Ambassador stressed the need for free, fair, transparent and well-administered elections and asked how he could help us overcome the perception that ELECAM lacks credibility. How to make Electoral Commission (ELECAM) work well, "keeps me awake at night," Biya responded, stressing that he wants it to function with true independence. He claimed he didn´t personally know the members of the ELECAM Council (who have been widely criticized for being partisan senior ruling party officials). His main problem with ELECAM was in creating a "mechanism" for it to function well and independently within a system which is so dominated by the central government.
¶9. (C) Ambassador praised Cameroon´s continued focus on fighting corruption, including renewed arrests of alleged corrupt officials, but also expressed concerns that legal procedures be fully pursued. She detailed USG support for anti-corruption efforts. Biya said he wouldn´t release those arrested for
corruption "until they admit they did something wrong." He was pleased with USG cooperation in combating corruption and stressed that corrupt officials "stole a lot of money." He confirmed that
more corruption-related arrests were coming under his anti-corruption initiative Operation Epervier" (Sparrowhawk), although (contrary to rumor) he thought this would not likely include former Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni because the evidence against him was thin and he didn´t steal much money. Epervier had sent a useful anti-corruption signal which has had some effect, he thought; however, he wanted to rethink the approach of arresting officials and focus more on getting the stolen money back. He had more information about corruption committed by former Secretary General in the Presidency Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara.
¶10. (SBU) The USG is particularly concerned about Cameroon´s slow progress toward improving budget execution and transparency, the Ambassador noted, explaining that a failure to improve budget
transparency could trigger a cut-off of bilateral assistance under U.S. law. She also hoped that Cameroon would be successful when it comes up for validation in March under the Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Biya agreed that Cameroon needed to do better in budget transparency and utilization, singling out the National Investment Company (SNI) as having a particularly nontransparent budget. He would talk to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister about this issue and EITI.
Elections
¶11. (C) Ambassador stressed the need for free, fair, transparent and well-administered elections and asked how he could help us overcome the perception that ELECAM lacks credibility. How to make Electoral Commission (ELECAM) work well, "keeps me awake at night," Biya responded, stressing that he wants it to function with true independence. He claimed he didn´t personally know the members of the ELECAM Council (who have been widely criticized for being partisan senior ruling party officials). His main problem with ELECAM was in creating a "mechanism" for it to function well and independently within a system which is so dominated by the central government.
