DASD WHELAN SCORES RARE ENCOUNTER WITH GUINEAN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000093

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDRESSE CORRECTED)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MASS KDEM PINS GV
SUBJECT: DASD WHELAN SCORES RARE ENCOUNTER WITH GUINEAN
PRESIDENT CONTE


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Classified By: DCM Julie Winn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) SUMMARY. In a surprise development, Guinean
President Lansana Conte received Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense for African Affairs Theresa Whelan at the
Presidential Palace on January 25. Plagued by poor health,
Conte has not to our knowledge held any meetings with
persons outside his government since a brief spurt of
activity just before the New Year. Thus, the fact of the
meeting was as important as its content. Conte (or his
entourage) may have wished to assure us that he is still
president, even as succession talk grows more open.
End Summary.


2. (C) Guinean Chief of Defense Staff General Kerfalla
Camara informed the Ambassador on the margins of a
reception given in DASD Whelan's honor the evening of
January 24 that President Conte would like to meet with
her. The Ambassador, COL Vic Nelson (OSD),DCM and DATT
accompanied DASD Whelan. General Kerfalla, Ministry of
Defense Cabinet Director (de facto Minister of Defense) COL
Kande Toure, and Presidential Secretary General (chief of
staff) Fode Bangoura also attended.


3. (S) In their 20-minute encounter, DASD Whelan
highlighted the years of fruitful U.S.-Guinea military
cooperation, citing her visit to Guinea in 1993 in
connection with navy projects we were then undertaking.
She welcomed her discussions the previous day with Conte's
staff on where our cooperation might go from here, noting
DoD assistance in the fight against HIV/AIDS and our
willingness to look for ways to respond to Guinea's request
for help in improving its capacity.


4. (S) DASD Whelan remarked on the USG's work with Liberia
to further stability there. She hoped that a more
professional Liberian military would cooperate more
effectively and positively with neighboring forces in the
Mano River Union to contain conflict. Her visit to Guinea,
she said, aimed to emphasize cooperation here as well.
Guinea's restraint in the face of border provocations over
the years, as well as its concrete contributions to
peacekeeping (e.g., ECOMOG,) have been important in
preventing further spread of conflict in the region.
Thanking President Conte for Guinea's contribution, DASD
Whelan added that the Guinean military has demonstrated
that it has much to offer in promoting stability and
democracy in the region.


5. (S) President Conte expressed several times his
appreciation for ongoing U.S.-Guinean relations. He said
that Guinea relies on cooperation with the U.S., welcomed
the DASD's visit and hoped it would not be the last.
Guinea is not jealous of USG assistance to its neighbors,
he stressed, since the populations are related across
borders, and anything that helps Liberia and Sierra Leone
is good for Guinea as well. He hoped that the U.S., which
he observed is in the forefront if helping to calm the
region, would continue its work until the region is at
complete peace.


6. (S) To the Ambassador's question on Cote d'Ivoire, President Conte
averred that the conflict there could be resolved quickly if the
international community acted uniformly in supporting the elected
government and denied support to its opponents. Backing both sides
simultaneously or attempting to impose a leader from the
outside only escalated the conflict, although the Ivoirian
government should certainly be encouraged to represent all
the people.


7. (S) COMMENT: The fact of this meeting was as important
as its content, given the rarity of President Conte's
receiving visitors. His state of health remains variable
day-by-day: Conte was seated when the delegation arrived,
but stood up without assistance to say good-bye. He
appeared reasonably alert, tracked the discussion without
losing its thread, and was appropriately responsive
throughout. His feet appeared somewhat swollen, and his
right foot had a small sore. Since Conte had kicked off
his sandals, it was clear that all toes were intact (i.e.,
no amputation yet despite his advanced diabetes). Always
a heavy smoker, he had three cigarettes during the
conversation. Although the topic was not raised with
President Conte, his staff may or may not have briefed him
on the discussion between DASD and senior military officers
(septel) regarding the military's role in any succession
scenario. As transition talk grows louder in Guinea, Conte
and his entourage may have wished to assure the highest-level
Washington visitor in some time that he has not yet fallen
out of the saddle.


8. (U) This message was cleared by DASD Whelan.


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and his entourage may have wished to assure the
highest-level Washington visitor in some time that he has
not yet fallen out of the saddle.


8. (U) This message was cleared by DASD Whelan.

MCDONALD