GHANA'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON TOGO AND COTE D'IVOIRE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 001122 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2015 TAGS: GH IV PGOV PREL TO SUBJECT: GHANA'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON TOGO AND COTE D'IVOIRE Classified By: Ambassador Mary C. Yates for reasons 1.5 d and e. ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador and PolChief met on June 10 with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo to deliver a demarche on trafficking in persons (reported septel) and discuss his and President Kufuor's upcoming trip to Washington and meeting with President Bush. During the meeting, the minister shared a few insights into the situation in Togo and Cote d'Ivoire. -------------- Togo -------------- ¶2. (C) Akufo-Addo confirmed that Nigerian President Obasanjo had been in Accra earlier that day and had met with President Kufuor, a representative of the Togolese government and some senior Togolese opposition leaders, including from Gilchrist Olympio's UFC. They made significant progress toward agreement on a government of national unity, although we will only know early the week of June 13 if a deal has been struck. Obasanjo is keen to have a government of national unity in place in Togo in the next three weeks. The goal is a solution which provides security and a climate of reconciliation. -------------- Cote d'Ivoire -------------- ¶3. (C) As expected, the issue of disarming the militia is difficult. There is the real possibility of renewed conflict. However, there are some hopeful signs. A disarmament program has been worked out. Allasane Ouattara has been allowed to compete in the upcoming election. The ground is being set for the election, although this cannot take place without disarmament of the militia. YATES NNNN