OFFICIAL GOF REACTION TO DEATH OF TOGO PRESIDENT

UNCLAS PARIS 000747

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TO FR
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL GOF REACTION TO DEATH OF TOGO PRESIDENT
EYADEMA



1. (U) Both President Chirac and the MFA issued brief
communiques following the death on February 5 of Togo's
President Gnassingbe Eyadema. Informal Embassy translations
of both texts follow:


2. (U) Elysee Communique (February 5, 2005):

BEGIN COMMUNIQUE:

-- It is with profound sadness that I learn of the sudden
death of Gnassingbe Eyadema, President of the Republic of
Togo.

-- With him disappears a friend of France who was for me a
personal friend.

-- In these sad hours, I address to his family my very
sincere condolences.

-- My thoughts turn to the Togolese people. They will find
themselves, I am sure, brought together democratically
through this ordeal, which takes place at the very moment
when new perspectives were beginning to appear for Togo.

-- I am certain that Africa feels cruelly the loss of he
who, for so many years, consecrated his efforts to regional
cooperation, mediation, and the search for peace.

END COMMUNIQUE.


3. (U) MFA Communique (February 6, 2005):

BEGIN COMMUNIQUE:

-- On the day after the disappearance of President Eyadema,
France considers indispensable respect for the Togolese
Constitution. The transition should therefore be assured, in
conformity with the dispositions of this Constitution, and in
strict respect of legality, by the President of the National
Assembly. Beyond this intermediate period, it belongs to the
Togolese people to express themselves freely and
democratically.

-- In this new phase which opens for Togo, it is essential
to oversee that the process of dialogue with the European
Union, begun under the aegis of President Eyadema, continues
and succeeds as rapidly as possible.

END COMMUNIQUE.


4. (U) Abidjan minimize considered.
Leach