Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LIBREVILLE515
2006-08-07 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:
COMMENTS ON GABON-EG BORDER DISPUTE MEDIATION
VZCZCXYZ0033 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLC #0515 2191426 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071426Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9262 INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0703 RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0921 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 1314 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0822 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0314 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0310 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0045
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000515
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PREL EPET GB EK
SUBJECT: COMMENTS ON GABON-EG BORDER DISPUTE MEDIATION
REF: YAOUNDE 1044
Classified By: DCM Kathy Dhanani. Reason: 1.4 (b) & (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000515
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PREL EPET GB EK
SUBJECT: COMMENTS ON GABON-EG BORDER DISPUTE MEDIATION
REF: YAOUNDE 1044
Classified By: DCM Kathy Dhanani. Reason: 1.4 (b) & (d).
1. (C) On August 2, MFA Legal Advisor Michel Biang gave DCM
his perspective on the status of efforts to resolve the
Gabon-Equatorial Guinea border dispute before UNSG Annan's
mandate concludes. He said that the Geneva meeting of heads
of state in June was to convene under joint French and
Spanish mediation. Biang said that Spain had appointed a
legal expert as mediator, while France named a diplomat. The
parties received no formal notice of the mediators' proposal
in advance of the meeting, but friends in France gave the
Gabonese an advance peak. The proposal, in Biang's eyes,
completely capitulated to EG by ignoring the (controversial)
1974 treaty; he said the GREG could not have asked for a more
favorable outcome. (Note: This contrasts with reports in
Malabo that the substance would not have been acceptable to
EG (Reftel).) Foreign Minister Ping was briefed on the
terms of the proposal, and convinced President Bongo not to
attend the meeting. Biang commented that this was fortunate,
since he believed Bongo may have capitulated had he been
presented the proposal at a summit.
2. (C) Comment: Gabon's relative intransigence over boundary
negotiations reflects the views of legal experts advising the
process (including Biang),who insist that the 1974 treaty
must be recognized, even if a decision is made to amend the
boundary it delineates. They believe the International Court
of Justice would recognize the Treaty were the dispute
subject to judicial arbitration.
3. (C) Comment cont: It is notable that the UN, Gabon and EG
decided to bring the French and Spanish into the process, but
ignored the USG's offer to help broker a resolution. The
Gabonese may have had some doubts about USG even-handedness,
given substantial US economic interests in EG.
WALKLEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PREL EPET GB EK
SUBJECT: COMMENTS ON GABON-EG BORDER DISPUTE MEDIATION
REF: YAOUNDE 1044
Classified By: DCM Kathy Dhanani. Reason: 1.4 (b) & (d).
1. (C) On August 2, MFA Legal Advisor Michel Biang gave DCM
his perspective on the status of efforts to resolve the
Gabon-Equatorial Guinea border dispute before UNSG Annan's
mandate concludes. He said that the Geneva meeting of heads
of state in June was to convene under joint French and
Spanish mediation. Biang said that Spain had appointed a
legal expert as mediator, while France named a diplomat. The
parties received no formal notice of the mediators' proposal
in advance of the meeting, but friends in France gave the
Gabonese an advance peak. The proposal, in Biang's eyes,
completely capitulated to EG by ignoring the (controversial)
1974 treaty; he said the GREG could not have asked for a more
favorable outcome. (Note: This contrasts with reports in
Malabo that the substance would not have been acceptable to
EG (Reftel).) Foreign Minister Ping was briefed on the
terms of the proposal, and convinced President Bongo not to
attend the meeting. Biang commented that this was fortunate,
since he believed Bongo may have capitulated had he been
presented the proposal at a summit.
2. (C) Comment: Gabon's relative intransigence over boundary
negotiations reflects the views of legal experts advising the
process (including Biang),who insist that the 1974 treaty
must be recognized, even if a decision is made to amend the
boundary it delineates. They believe the International Court
of Justice would recognize the Treaty were the dispute
subject to judicial arbitration.
3. (C) Comment cont: It is notable that the UN, Gabon and EG
decided to bring the French and Spanish into the process, but
ignored the USG's offer to help broker a resolution. The
Gabonese may have had some doubts about USG even-handedness,
given substantial US economic interests in EG.
WALKLEY