a écrit le 6 septembre 2011 à 1h55 14. (C) Biya was the most relaxed and talkative of all his meetings with Ambassador. He was gracious, generally well informed, mentally sharp, and seemingly in good health, although he tired toward the end of the two hours. He seemed eager to keep the conversation going, venturing into concerns about Afghanistan, Iran (which he feared threatened Israel), and Haiti (he praised the
U.S. response). Ambassador commended Cameroon´s $1 million offer of assistance to Haiti; Biya said the Cameroonian public was praising this decision. He put a heavy value on discipline, highlighting its strength among northern Cameroonians and its weakness in the Indomitable Lions (the national soccer team, which lost in the Africa Cup) and among some of his colleagues (such as Minister of Economy and Planning Luis Paul Motaze, who Biya thought lacked discretion). At the same time, however, he revealed a mischievous side and projected a degree of helplessness when confronted with key problems in his government (such as managing the budget, jumpstarting agriculture, and making ELECAM more
independent).
¶15. (S) He did not seem well informed about the poor state of the navy, which Ambassador mentioned in discussions about the BIR. He gave no hint as to whether he will run in the next presidential
election or whether he might change the composition of the ELECAM Council. His concerns about Islamic extremism echoed similar concerns we have been recently picking up in the north and among
our moderate Muslim contacts, who worry about dangerous influences both from Nigeria and Iran. Biya´s odd insistence that corrupt officials should repent reflected his religious background (he
started his career in the seminary) and his emphasis on personal loyalty. His professed frustration with China contrasts with the rising profile of Chinese investments in Cameroon; it probably reflects some real ambivalence about China and Cameroon´s desire to balance Chinese, U.S. and French interests. Biya seemed very concerned about climate change, noting at one point that he was moving to a more energy efficient house.
¶16. (C) Biya´s affection for the U.S. appears genuine (he talked fondly of his one visit to the U.S.) Some in the media are already interpreting the length of this meeting (which some journalists report as unprecedented) as a sign of the importance of the U.S.-Cameroon relationship. Biya´s wide ranging comments and questions encompassed American car manufacturers, Tiger Woods, the Massachusetts Senate election, the U.S. economy an
U.S. response). Ambassador commended Cameroon´s $1 million offer of assistance to Haiti; Biya said the Cameroonian public was praising this decision. He put a heavy value on discipline, highlighting its strength among northern Cameroonians and its weakness in the Indomitable Lions (the national soccer team, which lost in the Africa Cup) and among some of his colleagues (such as Minister of Economy and Planning Luis Paul Motaze, who Biya thought lacked discretion). At the same time, however, he revealed a mischievous side and projected a degree of helplessness when confronted with key problems in his government (such as managing the budget, jumpstarting agriculture, and making ELECAM more
independent).
¶15. (S) He did not seem well informed about the poor state of the navy, which Ambassador mentioned in discussions about the BIR. He gave no hint as to whether he will run in the next presidential
election or whether he might change the composition of the ELECAM Council. His concerns about Islamic extremism echoed similar concerns we have been recently picking up in the north and among
our moderate Muslim contacts, who worry about dangerous influences both from Nigeria and Iran. Biya´s odd insistence that corrupt officials should repent reflected his religious background (he
started his career in the seminary) and his emphasis on personal loyalty. His professed frustration with China contrasts with the rising profile of Chinese investments in Cameroon; it probably reflects some real ambivalence about China and Cameroon´s desire to balance Chinese, U.S. and French interests. Biya seemed very concerned about climate change, noting at one point that he was moving to a more energy efficient house.
¶16. (C) Biya´s affection for the U.S. appears genuine (he talked fondly of his one visit to the U.S.) Some in the media are already interpreting the length of this meeting (which some journalists report as unprecedented) as a sign of the importance of the U.S.-Cameroon relationship. Biya´s wide ranging comments and questions encompassed American car manufacturers, Tiger Woods, the Massachusetts Senate election, the U.S. economy an
