COTE D'IVOIRE: INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000963

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO ASEC IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP MEETING
RESCHEDULED, NEW YORK MEETING IN DOUBT

REF: ABIDJAN 947

Classified By: POL/ECON Jim Wojtasiewicz, reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).


1. (U) The next meeting of the International Working Group
(IWG) has been postponed from September 1 to September 8. In
his letter notifying IWG members of the change, Special
Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Pierre Schori
explained that it was made at the request of Prime Minster
Banny because Banny plans to host another meeting with the
four principal Ivoirian political leaders in Yamoussoukro
September 2.


2. (C) Mariama Bayard-Gamatie, Director of the Political
Department at ONUCI (the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire),told
us August 24 that the three principal opposition leaders --
former President Bedie, leader of the PDCI (Democratic Party
of Cote d'Ivoire); former Prime Minister Ouattara, leader of
the RDR (Rally of Republicans); and Guillaume Soro, leader of
the rebel FN (New Forces) -- are balking at Banny's proposed
September 2 meeting because they believe Banny has violated
commitments made at previous such meetings and tilted too far
in President Gbagbo's direction.


3. (C) Bayard-Gamatie also told us that the previous day,
SRSG Schori had delivered a letter to President Gbagbo from
Secretary General Annan, inviting Gbagbo to the planned

SIPDIS
September meeting in New York, on the margins of the General
Assembly, to discuss Cote d'Ivoire (precise date not yet
decided). She said Gbagbo told Schori he would respond to
the invitation in about a week. Bayard-Gamatie said that the
five principal Ivoirian political leaders and all the members
of the AU Peace and Security Council were being invited to
the New York meeting.


4. (C) Comment. We suspect Gbagbo is very reluctant to
attend the New York meeting. He probably finds the idea of
traveling all the way to New York for a meeting with his
Ivoirian brothers unnecessary and demeaning. On the other
hand, he insists adamantly that his mandate to remain in
office derives from the Ivoirian constitution, not from the
will of the international community, which runs counter to
the idea of attending an international gathering to decide on
his fate after October. He also may be wary of leaving his
chair empty at this time of domestic political uncertainty
-- the September 2002 coup attempt was launched while Gbagbo
was outside the country in Italy. As suggested reftel, an
AU-sponsored plan supported by the rest of the international
community has the best chance of successfully moving the
peace process forward. End Comment.
Hooks