Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABIDJAN1043
2006-09-15 16:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:
GBAGBO HARDENS RHETORIC ON PEACE PROCESS
how-toVZCZCXYZ1583 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAB #1043 2581610 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 151610Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1925 INFO RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0355 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1437 RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ2/ECJ3/ECJ5//
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 001043
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA FOR BRAZZAVILLE; EUCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL IV
SUBJECT: GBAGBO HARDENS RHETORIC ON PEACE PROCESS
REF: ABIDJAN 1037
Classified By: DCM V. VALLE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 001043
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA FOR BRAZZAVILLE; EUCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL IV
SUBJECT: GBAGBO HARDENS RHETORIC ON PEACE PROCESS
REF: ABIDJAN 1037
Classified By: DCM V. VALLE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (U) In a September 14 speech to senior officers and other
members of the Ivoirian Defense and Security Forces (FDS)
that was later televised, President Gbagbo delivered a
hard-line, uncompromising message on the peace process.
Gbagbo averred that he had made numerous compromises
(including 23 amendments to Ivoirian law) to implement Linas
Marcoussis and other agreements for the sake of peace.
However, he had been disappointed each time as the New Forces
continued to refuse to disarm. Gbagbo was harshly critical
of the International Working Group, who he said were all too
willing to sacrifice Ivoirian laws and the Ivoirian
constitution and jettison the country's duly elected
representatives, starting with Gbagbo himself. The President
declared that he would not yield to these demands ("No to the
farce of the IWG!" according to the headline in Abidjan's
leading daily, "Fraternite Matin") and announced that he
would not attend or send a representative to the UN Secretary
General's (SYG) meeting on Cote d'Ivoire scheduled for
September 20 in New York.
2. (C) Despite his harsh rhetoric, however, Gbagbo left the
door open for international mediation, making positive
comments about the role the African Union (AU) has played in
the Ivoirian crisis. Gbagbo commented that each time there
has been progress in advancing the peace process, it has been
the result of an African initiative. He said he would ask
the AU's Peace and Security Council to convene to make
specific proposals to address the Ivoirian crisis. The Peace
and Security Council is already scheduled to hold a meeting
on Cote d'Ivoire in New York just before the SYG's meeting,
and the UNSC is likely to take its cue from the AU's
recommendations as it has done before. Gbagbo's remarks
likely represent an effort to jockey for a stronger position
for himself in the run-up to the meetings in New York. They
are also meant to put the opposition and the international
community on notice that he has no intention of leaving once
his current, UNSC-approved mandate expires on October 31 or
even of accepting a reduction of his executive authority in
favor of the Prime Minister.
Hooks
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA FOR BRAZZAVILLE; EUCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL IV
SUBJECT: GBAGBO HARDENS RHETORIC ON PEACE PROCESS
REF: ABIDJAN 1037
Classified By: DCM V. VALLE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (U) In a September 14 speech to senior officers and other
members of the Ivoirian Defense and Security Forces (FDS)
that was later televised, President Gbagbo delivered a
hard-line, uncompromising message on the peace process.
Gbagbo averred that he had made numerous compromises
(including 23 amendments to Ivoirian law) to implement Linas
Marcoussis and other agreements for the sake of peace.
However, he had been disappointed each time as the New Forces
continued to refuse to disarm. Gbagbo was harshly critical
of the International Working Group, who he said were all too
willing to sacrifice Ivoirian laws and the Ivoirian
constitution and jettison the country's duly elected
representatives, starting with Gbagbo himself. The President
declared that he would not yield to these demands ("No to the
farce of the IWG!" according to the headline in Abidjan's
leading daily, "Fraternite Matin") and announced that he
would not attend or send a representative to the UN Secretary
General's (SYG) meeting on Cote d'Ivoire scheduled for
September 20 in New York.
2. (C) Despite his harsh rhetoric, however, Gbagbo left the
door open for international mediation, making positive
comments about the role the African Union (AU) has played in
the Ivoirian crisis. Gbagbo commented that each time there
has been progress in advancing the peace process, it has been
the result of an African initiative. He said he would ask
the AU's Peace and Security Council to convene to make
specific proposals to address the Ivoirian crisis. The Peace
and Security Council is already scheduled to hold a meeting
on Cote d'Ivoire in New York just before the SYG's meeting,
and the UNSC is likely to take its cue from the AU's
recommendations as it has done before. Gbagbo's remarks
likely represent an effort to jockey for a stronger position
for himself in the run-up to the meetings in New York. They
are also meant to put the opposition and the international
community on notice that he has no intention of leaving once
his current, UNSC-approved mandate expires on October 31 or
even of accepting a reduction of his executive authority in
favor of the Prime Minister.
Hooks