PROPOSAL FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL PERMREPS TO VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 001343 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 TAGS: PGOV UNSC ASEC IV SUBJECT: PROPOSAL FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL PERMREPS TO VISIT COTE D'IVOIRE Classified By: Ambassador Aubrey Hooks, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) I believe it would be most useful for the Permreps or acting Permreps of the P-5 to come to Abidjan, to deliver in person a message of support for UN Security Council Resolution 1721. Though he nominally welcomed UNSCR 1721, President Gbagbo has said from the outset that it contains attacks on the Ivoirian constitution that he will not implement. He has also consistently and repeatedly insisted on misinterpreting the resolution to leave the balance of power in his own hands, whereas it was the clear intention of the international community for the powers of the prime minister to be significantly enhanced. The International Working Group (IWG) sought in the communique from its December 1 meeting to clarify any remaining ambiguity on the powers of the prime minister, but Gbagbo immediately issued his own communique denouncing the IWG. ¶2. (C) It would be highly useful for President Gbagbo to hear directly from the mouths of all five permanent Security Council members the message that the Security Council, in a unanimous decision, did indeed intend for the powers of the prime minister to be significantly enhanced, and that we are convinced this can be done without violating the constitution, by amending and supplementing current Ivoirian law. At the same time the Permreps could strongly urge all parties: Gbagbo, Prime Minister Banny, the political opposition and the rebels, to work together cooperatively in support of the peace process. Such a visit by the P-5 Permreps was extremely effective in advancing the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo a few years ago, and I believe it would be similarly effective in Cote d'Ivoire now. Hooks