Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS2901
2005-04-28 16:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

TOGO: MFA DIVIDED OVER GOF REACTION TO ELECTIONS

Tags:  PREL PGOV TO FR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002901 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV TO FR
SUBJECT: TOGO: MFA DIVIDED OVER GOF REACTION TO ELECTIONS

Classified By: Acting DCM Josiah Rosenblatt
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002901

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV TO FR
SUBJECT: TOGO: MFA DIVIDED OVER GOF REACTION TO ELECTIONS

Classified By: Acting DCM Josiah Rosenblatt
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) At a National Day reception at the South African
Embassy April 27, MFA PDAS-equivalent Elisabeth Barbier
commented to Africa watcher on the situation in Togo, sighing
wearily "one more crisis." Referring to the MFA statement of
April 25, which described the elections as having proceeded
under "satisfactory conditions" with "isolated incidents,"
Barbier (protect) said that the French response had been too
quick, and too favorable.


2. (C) Asked whether the MFA statement had been driven by the
Presidency, Barbier insisted that the statement had come from
the MFA. She would not be drawn out when we suggested that
it had been approved either by Nathalie Delapalme, FM
Barnier's Africa advisor, or by Barnier himself who,
unprompted, used a press conference in Luxembourg April 25 to
call the elections a success.


3. (U) Several French papers published April 28 have
criticized the MFA's characterization of the Togolese
elections as a success. Le Figaro, refers to the subsequent
MFA statement on legal mechanisms for recourse as be on the
"borders of reality." Liberation, referring to France's ties
with deceased President Eyadema asserts that Paris clearly
aligned France with the regime, preferring Faure Gnassingbe
as the best candidate to assure stability in Togo. Le Monde
says that for decades Paris supported a regime which has
ruined Togo, and says that Foreign Minister Barnier, instead
of describing the elections as satisfactory, would have done
better to follow the EU and the U.S. responses.


4. (C) Queried about the security situation, Barbier
expressed concern to Africa watcher about the attacks on
French nationals following the election, but insisted that
France was not planning to conduct an evacuation.
WOLFF