C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000199

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO ASEC IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: SORO AND GBAGBO TO MEET FEBRUARY 27

Classified By: Poloff Phaedra Gwyn for reasons 1.4 b&d


1. (C) On February 22, Sidike Konate, spokesperson for the
New Forces (NF), called on the Ambassador to inform him that
a meeting between President Gbagbo and NF Secretary General
Guillaume Soro is scheduled to take place February 27. There
will also be a second meeting between Gbagbo and all three
principal opposition leaders: Soro; Alassane Ouattara, former
Prime Minister and leader of the Rally for Republicans (RDR);
and Henri Konan Bedie, former President and leader of the
Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire ( PDCI). Both meetings
will take place in Yamoussoukro and will be hosted by Prime
Minister Banny.


2. (C) Konate said the meeting between Soro and Gbagbo has
been in the works for over a month but the January street
disturbances and atacks on UN facilities caused it to be
postponed. Gbagbo,s camp also tried to arrange a meeting
with Soro on February 20 but due to miscommunication it did
not happen. Konate told us that throughout the course of
setting up this meeting, the NF has wanted to be sure that
the PM would be informed and present.


3. (C) Konate also told us that Soro and Konate will travel
to Brazzaville February 23 to meet with Congolese President
Sassou-Nguesso in his capacity as AU Chairman, and with
Congolese Foreign Minister Adada in his capacity as co-chair
of the International Working Group. Konate said that these
meetings are in anticipation of Soro,s beginning to take
part in the Banny government's cabinet meetings, now planned
to start with the March 1 cabinet meeting in Abidjan. He
said the NF want to discuss their security concerns with the
parties involved and receive some assurances before Soro,s
return.


4. (C) Comment: The meeting between Soro and Gbagbo is a
positive development, hopefully the beginning of a
confidence-building process between the two former
antagonists. End Comment.
Hooks