COTE D'IVOIRE: POLITICAL LEADERS' SUMMIT MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000217

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KPKO IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: POLITICAL LEADERS' SUMMIT MEETING
POSTPONED

REF: ABIDJAN 199

Classified By: POL/ECON Jim Wojtasiewicz, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (U) The meetings that were scheduled to take place
February 27 between President Gbagbo and New Forces Secretary
General Guillaume Soro; and between Gbagbo, Soro, former
Prime Minister Ouattara and former President Bedie (reftel)
did not happen, because of a disgreement over security
arrangements.


2. (C) FN and political opposition contacts told us February
27 that it was agreed in advance that security at the site of
the meetings, the Felix Houphouet-Boigy Foundation for Peace
in Yamoussoukro, would be provided by Moroccan soldiers from
the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI),backed up by
French soldiers from the Licorne peacekeeping operation.
When President Gbagbo's bodyguards from the Republican Guard
arrived, they apparently demanded that the French forces
withdraw from some of their positions, and they also insisted
that Soro's NF bodyguards must be unarmed. With Gbagbo
standing by in his Yamoussoukro presidential palace, Bedie
and Ouattara in the President Hotel in Yamoussoukro, and Soro
in Bouake (waiting to fly in by French military helicopter),
the various security forces argued for hours but failed to
reach agreement.


3. (C) Soro told the Ambassador February 28 that Bedie and
Ouattara were just as concerned as he was about security
arrangements, and had refused to leave their hotel until they
felt safe. He said it was up to President Gbagbo to reassure
others in terms of security. Soro noted that negotiations
had resumed that morning, and he was hopeful that the
meetings could still happen as early as the afternoon of
February 28 or the morning of March 1. If not, Soro said he
would fly down to Yamoussoukro anyway to meet with Bedie and
Ouattara at their hotel, where adequate UNOCI/Licorne
security arrangements are in place.


4. (C) Comment. This is disappointing but not surprising.
It was the first time the four principal political leaders
had attempted to meet in Cote d'Ivoire since the 2002
rebellion and failed coup attempt. They have met outside the
country, under the auspices of international mediation, but
never on their own soil. Their inability to follow through
with the meeting underscores the deep divisions and mistrust
in this country, and the lack of political will to
compromise. However, Prime Minister Banny seems determined
to make this happen, and President Gbagbo does seem prepared
to reach out to his opponents. We are cautiously optimistic
that the Ivoirians will soon be able to bring themselves to
take this historic step forward in the peace process. End
Comment.
Hooks