ECOWAS TO ARGUE FOR EASED LIBERIAN SANCTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001191 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2012 TAGS: PREL LI NI ECOWAS SUBJECT: ECOWAS TO ARGUE FOR EASED LIBERIAN SANCTIONS REF: ABUJA 1185 Classified by CDA Andrews; Reasons 1.5 and (d). ¶1. (C) During April 12 discussions on USG support for ECOWAS (septel) and plans for the future of peace support programs for Africa (reftel),ECOWAS Deputy Executive Secretary Chiekh Diarra told the visiting team that ECOWAS was working hard to reduce tensions in Liberia. The Secretariat was trying to establish contact with the LURD to begin the process of dialogue between the LURD and GOL. ¶2. (C) Diarra also noted that during the first week of April, ECOWAS had sent a team to Liberia to assess the impact of sanctions and GOL compliance. ECOWAS believed that the GOL was making an effort to comply with the sanctions. ECOWAS planned to argue for the sanctions regime to be revised and "eased" at the next UN meeting, Diarra said. Andrews