COTE D'IVOIRE: VISIT OF DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABIDJAN 000315

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: VISIT OF DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY
LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD

REF: A. ABIDJAN 179

B. ABIDJAN 228

Classified By: POL/ECON Jin Wojtasiewicz, reasons 1-4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Deputy Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield
made a very productive visit to Abidjan March 15-17. She met
with leaders and top officials from all parts of the
political spectrum. Her Ivoirian interlocutors praised
highly the intensity of U.S. engagement here, and appealed
for even more support for their peace process. DAS
Thomas-Greenfield reaffirmed U.S. commitment to facilitating
that process in any way we can, while underscoring that
ultimately it is up to the Ivoirians to lead themselves to
peace. End Summary.


2. (C) Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for African Affairs, made a very productive visit to Abidjan
March 15-17. She met with Prime Minister Banny; Guillaume
Soro, Secretary General of the rebel New Forces (FN); Sarata
Ottro-Toure, President Gbagbo's Deputy Cabinet Director;
Mambe Beugre, Chairman of the Independent Electoral
Commission; a group of leaders of political opposition
parties; Largato Ouattara, Secretary General in the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs; and Charles Koffi Diby, Secretary General
of the Ministry of Finance. She also attended a dinner
hosted by the Ambassador with Ministers of Foreign Affairs
from South Africa and the Republic of the Congo, the French
Minister of Cooperation, and the UN Special Representative of
the Secretary General.


3. (C) All of her Ivoirian interlocutors had high praise for
the intensity of U.S. engagement in Cote d'Ivoire, citing in
particular the Ambassador's recent trip to the
rebel-controlled north (ref A) as an important contribution
toward the reunification of the country. The Ivoirians
appealed for the United States and the rest of the
international community to remain engaged in the Ivoirian
peace process. DAS Thomas-Greenfield reaffirmed U.S. support
for peace and reconciliation for all of Cote d'Ivoire. She
noted the importance of resolving Cote d'Ivoire's political
crisis for the stability of all of West Africa. She stressed
that the United States does not take sides, and urged
Ivoirians to understand that ultimately it is up to them to
resolve their crisis -- the international community can and
will help, but we cannot impose peace in Cote d'Ivoire.


4. (C) Her meeting with rebel leader Guillaume Soro was a
historic one, the first time a senior official from
Washington has met with him. Soro was accompanied by his
military chief of staff and three FN ministers from Prime
Minister Banny's new government. Soro stressed the importance
for the FN of completing the process of issuing
identification cards to all Ivoirians. He noted that this
was the reason why the FN took up arms in the first place, to
claim the right of all Ivoirians to be given a document
affirming their citizenship. He also underscored the
importance of making jobs available for FN soldiers after
they disarm. Soro was upbeat about the recent resumption of
direct talks between the Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire
(FANCI) and the Armed Forces of the FN (FAFN),especially
about the prospects for creating a combined joint staff as a
first step toward integrating and restructuring the two armed
forces.


5. (C) DAS Thomas-Greenfield's meeting with the Chairman of
the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) was also the first
time any U.S. official has met with the new CEI leadership.
Chairman Beugre was accompanied by eight of the other eleven
members of the new CEI Executive Bureau, representing all
parts of the political spectrum. Each one spoke, one-by-one
pledging to work in a spirit of consensus to bring about
fair, transparent and democratic elections, and appealing for
the United States and the international community to help
them find the necessary resources to do so. This meeting
received extensive coverage on Ivoirian television and in the
local newspapers.


6. (C) Presidential Advisor Ottor-Toure, like Soro, was
upbeat about prospects for peace, and about the recently
resumed military-to-military dialogue including discussion of
the creation of a combined joint command. She, like all of
DAS Thomas-Greenfield's other Ivoirian interlocutors, hailed
the Ambassador's recent trip to the North as an important
step toward healing the country's wounds. She noted that at
a recent Cabinet meeting, Soro had invited President Gbagbo
to visit the rebel capital of Bouake and Gbagbo said he
would, when he can call upon all Ivoirians who fled after the

ABIDJAN 00000315 002 OF 002


2002 rebellion to return to their homes. Ottro-Toure
confirmed that the National Assembly, whose mandate expired
December 16 but was extended by President Gbagbo, would not
take up any controversial legislation but only routine
matters like the 2006 budget.


7. (C) The leaders of political opposition parties were
encouraged by the February 28 summit of Ivoirian political
leaders in Yamoussoukro (ref B),but were somewhat skeptical
about President Gbagbo's real intentions and repeatedly drew
attention to the fact that nothing has been done to dismantle
the pro-Gbagbo militias. They expressed support for the idea
of a combined joint command between the FANCI and the FAFN.
They appealed for the United States and the international
community to help facilitate the process of issuing
identification cards and to make sure the upcoming elections
are truly free, fair and democratic. They also called for
more troops for UNOCI, to support these efforts.

(C) Comment. DAS Thomas-Greenfield's visit encouraginged all
sides to move forward with the peace process and reaffirmed
U.S. support for that process, while making clear that we can
only be facilitators, the Ivoirians must lead themselves out
of this crisis. The fact that she came here underscored U.S.
commitment to facilitate the Ivoirian peace process in any
way we can. End Comment.

Hooks