COTE D'IVOIRE: POLITICAL LEADERS HOLD SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABIDJAN 000228

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: POLITICAL LEADERS HOLD SUMMIT
MEETING

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


1. (C) Summary. Cote d'Ivoire's five principal political
leaders met in Yamoussoukro February 28, the first such
meeting since the current crisis began in 2002. They
reaffirmed their commitment to the Pretoria Agreement and to
holding elections as scheduled, and agreed on six sets of
issues: implementing UNSCR 1633 and the constitution
harmoniously; moving forward expeditiously with disarmament,
and restructuring the armed forces; expeditiously and
simultaneously issuing identification cards and registering
voters; ensuring equitable access and a message of
reconciliation on national radio and television; adopting a
"code of good conduct" in political discourse; and resolving
the longstanding dispute over the Independent Electoral
Commission (CEI). The most important thing about the meeting
is that it took place at all. Talking face-to-face could
significantly speed up the peace process, but much will
depend on implementation. Perhaps the most significant
specific achievement is breaking the CEI deadlock. The
meeting is also a real tribute to Prime Minister Banny, who
is playing an increasingly forceful, positive role in leading
this country out of its longstanding crisis. It is
noteworthy that he is succeeding by drawing President Gbagbo
and other key players in, rather than confronting them. We
hope he will be well- received when he comes to Washington
later this month to take on another of this country's
seemingly intractable problems, its economic crisis, in
meetings with the World Bank and the IMF. End Summary.


2. (U) President Laurent Gbagbo, Prime Minister Charles Konan
Banny, former President Henri Konan Bedie, former Prime
Minister Alassane Ouattara, and New Forces (FN) Secretary
General Guillaume Soro met for four hours in Yamoussoukro on
February 28.


3. (U) At the end of the meeting, they issued a joint
communique reaffirming their commitment to the Pretoria
Agreement and to holding electiosn as scheduled, and listing
six points of agreement:

-- They reaffirmed that UNSCR 1633 and the Ivoirian
Constitution are not in conflict with each other. The group
asked the President and Prime Minister to expeditiously find
equitable solutions to any problems that might arise in
impleementing these documents harmoniously.

-- They agreed on the need to go forward with disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration (DDR),and to restart the
dialogue between the military commanders of the FN and the
Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (FANCI) on restructuring of the
armed forces. They noted the need for successful
reintegration of former combatants into society. They agreed
that a sub-regional approach to security is needed, that
would include the Economic Community of West African states
(ECOWAS) and the West African Monetary Union.

-- They welcomed the possibility of simultaneously
identifying the population and registering voters.

-- They reviewed measures the government has taken to ensure
equitable access to Ivoirian Radio and Television (RTI),and
to increase nationwide coverage broadcasting messages of
peace. They called on the press to join in the peace process
and to refrain from calling it into question.

-- They agreed on a "code of good conduct:" to meet again
frequently to advance the peace process and ensure that
politics are conducted in an amicable and democratic fashion.

-- Taking note of the arbitration by UN High Representative
for Elections on the issue of the Independent Electoral
Commission (CEI),they agreed on the creation of a fourth
vice president position (with the expectation that it would
go to Presidenr Gbagbo's Ivoirian Popular Front(FPI) party).
They also called on the Prime Minister to convene a meeting
within the next few days of the CEI Executive Board, the
Linas-Marcoussis signatories, and all other interested
parties, to determine the powers of the Executive Board and
the operating rules of the CEI, so as to provide for free,
fair and transparent elections.


4. (U) In comments to the press after the meeting, Bedie
called it the first decisive action that has been taken since
the beginning of the crisis, but he cautioned that progress
will not be easy, there will be highs and lows. Soro said it
was a symbolic meeting but a step in the right direction.
Now it is necessary to move forward to achieve the goals that

ABIDJAN 00000228 002 OF 002


have been agreed on. Banny said it was a good meeting that
will give hope to Ivoirians. The issues discussed were
important for the peace process. Ouattara said it was a
good, friendly meeting that put in place measures that will
advance the peace process. All agreed that the atmosphere
prevailing during the meeting was very positive.


5. (C) FN spokesman Sidiki Konate told the Ambassador March 1
that it was FANCI Chief of Staff General Mangou who broke the
logjam on security arrangements to allow the meeting to go
forward. FANCI and the FN each ended up with five armed
guards. UN peacekeeping forces were also present. No armed
guards were allowed in the meeting room. Participation was
one-plus-one. Konate said the FN were very pleased with the
results. All the key topics were discussed: the CEI,
restructuring of the military, DDR, identification. He said
Soro will be coming to Abidjan at the end of this week.


6. (C) Djedje Mady, Secretary General of Bedie's Democratic
Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI) party, told the Ambassador that
the PDCI is also pleased with the results of the meeting, but
that everything will depend on the implementation of what was
agreed on. Mady said Bedie will also be coming to Abidjan
this week. (He has been living in his home village in
central Cote d'Ivoire.) Ali Coulibaly, spokesman for
Ouattara's Rally for Republicans (RDR) party, told us the
meeting was a good first step toward creating a climate of
confidence, and the RDR is hopeful that all will follow
through with what they promised. He said it was particularly
significant that this was the first time since 2002 that the
Ivoirian parties were able to sit down together without
outside interference.


7. (C) Comment. The most important thing about this meeting
is that it took place at all. The very fact that the leaders
met together indicates a certain level of confidence, which
in and of itself is significant and a litmus test of where
the political process currently is. The fact that they are
talking to each other directly rather than through
intermediaries both speeds up the process and allows for
better communication, another plus. Perhaps the most
significant specific achievement is breaking the deadlock
over the CEI, assuming it actually works. This paves the way
for preparations for elections to get underway. However,
much depends on implementation, which in the past has often
fallen short of rhetoric.


8. (C) This meeting is also a real tribute to Prime Minister
Banny, who took the lead in organizing it and in setting the
agenda. Banny is playing an increasingly forceful, positive
role in advancing the peace process and leading the country
out of its longstanding crisis. He is doing this by drawing
President Gbagbo and other key players into the process,
rather than by confronting them. We note that Banny is
reportedly planning a trip to Washington this month for
meetings with the World Bank and the IMF about Cote
d'Ivoire's economic crisis, taking upon himself yet another
of this country's most difficult and seemingly intractable
problems. We hope he will be well-received. End Comment.
Hooks