COTE D'IVOIRE: SORO AND GBAGBO TO MEET FEBRUARY 27

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